Angels' Soriano's Knuckle Curve Has Been Unhittable So Far in 2026

The 27-year-old right-hander has been a pleasant surprise to start the season for the Los Angeles Angels.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:21am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, capturing the raw power and precision of Soriano's dominant pitching performance.Soriano's unhittable knuckle curve has been the key to his breakout start for the Angels this season.Oakland Today

Los Angeles Angels pitcher José Soriano has gotten off to an incredible start in 2026, going 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA through his first three starts. Soriano's standout pitch has been his knuckle curve, which he has thrown 79 times out of his 278 total pitches. The pitch has yet to be hit this season, striking out 8 batters. Soriano's dominant start has been a key factor in the Angels' 7-8 record to begin the year, as they look to compete in a tight American League West division.

Why it matters

Soriano's early-season success with his knuckle curve could make him a Cy Young contender if he can sustain it. The Angels are hoping his breakout performance can help them compete in a competitive AL West division race against the Mariners, Astros, Athletics, and Rangers.

The details

Through his first three starts, Soriano has only surrendered 7 hits and 1 home run over 20 innings of work. His knuckle curve has been his most effective pitch, accounting for 79 of his 278 total pitches. The pitch has yet to be hit this season and has struck out 8 batters.

  • Soriano has made 3 starts so far in the 2026 MLB season.

The players

José Soriano

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who has gotten off to a dominant start in 2026, going 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA.

Mike Trout

The star center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels who is showing signs of returning to his old form this season.

Los Angeles Angels

The MLB team that Soriano and Trout play for, who are currently 7-8 on the season but hoping to compete in the tight American League West division race.

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The takeaway

Soriano's dominant start with his unhittable knuckle curve has been a key factor in the Angels' early-season success. If he can sustain this level of performance, he could emerge as a Cy Young contender and help the Angels compete in the tight AL West division race.