Joakim Soria joined the Kansas City organization as a Rule 5 selection from the San Diego Padres in late 2006, a diamond-in-the-rough find who would immediately transform into one of the most dominant closers in the game. Making his debut in 2007, the right-hander from Monclova quickly earned the nickname "The Mexicutioner" for his cold-blooded efficiency in the ninth inning.
After saving 17 games as a rookie, he evolved into an elite force between 2008 and 2010. During this stretch, he demonstrated a specialized ability to lock down games with a microscopic 1.84 ERA and a 1.005 WHIP. He showed the organization he was a foundational star by earning two All-Star selections and delivering a historic 2010 campaign. That summer, he recorded a career-high 43 saves, finished second in the league in Win Probability Added (WPA), and placed tenth in the AL Cy Young voting, a rare feat for a reliever on a non-contending team.
The heart of his first tenure was defined by elite durability until a torn elbow ligament required Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the entire 2012 season. This injury led to a difficult transition; after five dominant years, the Royals chose not to re-sign him, allowing him to test free agency. However, Soria’s story in Kansas City reached a natural second act when he returned to the club in 2016. During this second run, he pivoted into a veteran setup role, providing the steady-state production needed to bridge the gap for a team coming off a World Series title. While his velocity had dipped slightly, his veteran-like poise remained a tactical asset for the bullpen.
Soria was traded to the Chicago White Sox in early 2018 and had 162 saves for Kansas City.
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