[38] The Cubs went on to win the National League Central Division, but were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series. [42] Later that month, he lost a ball in the sun and dropped what would have been the game's final out in the 9th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing Jason Bay to reach safely and eventually costing the Cubs a win. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Copyright © 2020 Multiply Media, LLC.
[28] Soriano also played an integral part in the Cubs' offense during the team's annual Cross-town Classic with the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. [60], From August 13 to 16, Soriano batted in 18 runs over four games, tying the Major League record for most RBI in four consecutive games.
Soriano did not want to engage in contract negotiations during the season. Soriano's paternal family, the Guilleards, are of Haitian descent.
[54], In 2011, Soriano had a less than stellar year on defense and led in errors by a left fielder, with 7, and had the lowest fielding percentage, at .965. After the Nomo case, NPB officials had amended the Working Agreement without consulting any MLB officials in an attempt to prevent the situation from recurring. Soriano was a seven-time MLB All-Star, and won the All-Star Game MVP Award in 2004.
[37] Upon his return, Soriano proceeded to have the most productive September in the franchise's history. Soriano was named to the All-Star Futures Game in 1999. He also reached a career high in home runs with 46 (previously 39). Soriano, who since 2001 had played exclusively at second base, refused to take the field, and the Nationals organization threatened him with disqualification, which would have meant forfeiture of his salary, and he would not have received credit for service time in fulfillment of the obligations of his contract. [26] He led the Cubs in home runs, triples, runs, strikeouts, and Slugging percentage, among all regular starters.
Soriano had gotten off to a quick start, hitting a solo home run in his first at bat of the 2009 season.
Hideo Fukui was born in 1977. In 2003 he again led the major leagues in power-speed number (36.4). [26], Soriano was extremely productive in June. He also became just one of seven players to record 13 RBI in a two-game span, and fell just two RBI short of the all-time record set by former Yankee Tony Lazzeri. Soriano also led the team in home runs, despite having played in only 109 games. [23] The contract marked the most expensive deal in the Cubs' franchise history at the time and went through 2014.