Alay Soler
Encyclopedia
Alain "Alay" Soler is a former baseball
pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
for the New York Mets
in .
Soler attended high school at Espa Armani Arenado and played baseball for four years. He graduated from Nancy Uranga University with a physical education degree.
Soler played baseball for his country in the World University Games in Cuba in and in Italy in . He also participated in the World Youth Games in 1996 and was a teammate of José Contreras
on Pinar del Río
in the Cuban National Series
. He later played as a member of the Cuban national team
.
Soler defected from Cuba in November, 2003, receiving political asylum in the Dominican Republic
. He pitched for Leones del Escogido
in the Dominican Winter Baseball League in , recording a 0-2 record and a 5.28 ERA
in five games. In 15.1 innings, he allowed 14 hits
, nine runs
, with six walks
and 23 strikeout
s. He recorded 10 strikeouts and permitted one hit in 5.0 innings of work on October 26 vs. Estrellas Orientales
. Soler averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
In September, , Soler signed a three-year, $2.8 million major league contract with the New York Mets. However, he was unable to obtain a visa for entry into the United States until November, 2005. He began his career as a Met with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets
in April, , but was quickly promoted to the Double-A Binghamton Mets
in May, 2006.
Soler made his major league debut as a starter at Shea Stadium
on May 24, 2006. He gave up two earned run
s, five hits and four walks in six innings with no decision as the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies
5-4. In Soler's fourth career start (June 10, 2006) he hurled his first complete game shutout, a two-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Through the first half of 2006, Soler posted a 2-3 record with a 6.00 ERA.
On July 3, 2006, Soler was sent back to the Norfolk Tides
after a poor performance the night before against the New York Yankees
.
Soler was given his unconditional release by the Mets on March 12, 2007. He had pitched unimpressively during spring training
. On March 19, 2007, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. At the beginning of the season, Soler was assigned to the Pirates Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve
. He went 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances before being released on June 28, 2007.
Soler signed with the Houston Astros
in April , but was released. Soler then pitched for the Long Island Ducks
of the Atlantic League
. He announced his retirement on September 12, 2008, but in 2009 he would pitch in seven games for the Newark Bears
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in .
Soler attended high school at Espa Armani Arenado and played baseball for four years. He graduated from Nancy Uranga University with a physical education degree.
Soler played baseball for his country in the World University Games in Cuba in and in Italy in . He also participated in the World Youth Games in 1996 and was a teammate of José Contreras
José Contreras
José Ariel Contreras Camejo is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the Philadelphia Phillies...
on Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río Vegueros
Pinar del Río is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Based in the western city of Pinar del Río, the Vegueros are historically one of the more successful teams in the Cuban National Series, winning championships in 1997,1998.-History:...
in the Cuban National Series
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
. He later played as a member of the Cuban national team
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
.
Soler defected from Cuba in November, 2003, receiving political asylum in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He pitched for Leones del Escogido
Leones del Escogido
Leones del Escogido are a professional baseball team in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Established in , Leones are the third most successful teams from the Dominican Winter League, behind Tigres del Licey and Aguilas Cibaeñas, having won 13 national championships and 3 Caribbean Series.Leones...
in the Dominican Winter Baseball League in , recording a 0-2 record and a 5.28 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in five games. In 15.1 innings, he allowed 14 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, nine runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, with six walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and 23 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. He recorded 10 strikeouts and permitted one hit in 5.0 innings of work on October 26 vs. Estrellas Orientales
Estrellas Orientales
Estrellas Orientales is a baseball team in the Dominican Winter League. Based in San Pedro de Macorís, the team has historically struggled, winning championships only in 1954 and 1968.-Retired numbers:-Trivia:...
. Soler averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
In September, , Soler signed a three-year, $2.8 million major league contract with the New York Mets. However, he was unable to obtain a visa for entry into the United States until November, 2005. He began his career as a Met with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
in April, , but was quickly promoted to the Double-A Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
in May, 2006.
Soler made his major league debut as a starter at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
on May 24, 2006. He gave up two earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s, five hits and four walks in six innings with no decision as the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
5-4. In Soler's fourth career start (June 10, 2006) he hurled his first complete game shutout, a two-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. Through the first half of 2006, Soler posted a 2-3 record with a 6.00 ERA.
On July 3, 2006, Soler was sent back to the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
after a poor performance the night before against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Soler was given his unconditional release by the Mets on March 12, 2007. He had pitched unimpressively during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. On March 19, 2007, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. At the beginning of the season, Soler was assigned to the Pirates Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
. He went 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances before being released on June 28, 2007.
Soler signed with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in April , but was released. Soler then pitched for the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. He announced his retirement on September 12, 2008, but in 2009 he would pitch in seven games for the Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
.