The Atlanta Braves made a subtle but potentially meaningful roster move on Friday afternoon, claiming right-handed pitcher George Soriano off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, according to a report from Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints. In order to accommodate Soriano on their 40-man roster, Atlanta designated infielder Brett Wisely for assignment, effectively placing him in roster limbo while the organization sorts through its infield depth.
Soriano’s professional journey began nearly a decade ago, when he was signed as an international free agent by the Miami Marlins in August of 2015. Like many international signees, his development was gradual, with years spent honing his craft in the lower levels of the minor leagues before eventually reaching the majors. That long developmental path culminated in his MLB debut during the 2023 season, marking the realization of a goal that had been years in the making.
Over the course of parts of three major league seasons with Miami, Soriano flashed both promise and inconsistency. While his raw arm strength and physical tools were evident, translating those traits into sustained big league success proved challenging. Despite those struggles, his talent was intriguing enough that the Orioles claimed him off waivers on November 5, 2025, hoping that a change of scenery and organizational philosophy might unlock more consistent performance.
Soriano’s tenure in Baltimore, however, was brief. Less than two months after acquiring him, the Orioles designated the 26-year-old for assignment as part of a broader roster shuffle. That move was influenced by the club’s need to create space following transactions involving Jhonkensy Noel and Marco Luciano, both of whom factored into Baltimore’s roster calculus. With Soriano suddenly exposed to waivers once again, the Braves stepped in and claimed him, adding another arm to their organizational depth.
Looking strictly at his major league résumé, Soriano’s numbers leave plenty to be desired. Across 72 MLB appearances, he has logged 118 innings, during which he has surrendered 5.95 earned runs per nine innings. His strikeout rate sits at a respectable 22%, but that has been offset by a 10.3% walk rate, reflecting ongoing command issues that have limited his effectiveness. These struggles have been particularly pronounced over the past two seasons.
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In 2024, Soriano pitched 29⅓ innings at the major league level and finished with a 6.75 ERA. While not catastrophic in a small sample, it underscored the difficulty he had in consistently retiring hitters. The following year was even more challenging. During the 2025 season with Miami, he posted an 8.35 ERA across 36⅔ innings, along with a bloated 1.77 WHIP. Opposing hitters frequently reached base, and his inability to limit traffic ultimately led to diminished trust in high-leverage situations.
Despite those discouraging surface-level statistics, Soriano continues to attract interest from clubs around the league, largely because of what lies beneath the numbers. His raw arsenal remains enticing. He routinely averages better than 95 miles per hour on his fastball, giving him a foundational weapon that many pitchers simply do not possess. When paired with secondary offerings that can miss bats, that velocity creates the potential for dominance, particularly in shorter relief stints.
Equally important is Soriano’s track record in the minor leagues, where his performance has often been far more encouraging. During the 2025 season at the Triple-A level, he delivered excellent results with Jacksonville. Over 42⅔ innings, he compiled a sparkling 2.32 ERA, showcasing an ability to overpower hitters and induce weak contact. His strikeout rate at that level jumped to an impressive 28.8%, while his walk rate dropped to a manageable 8.8%, suggesting improved command and confidence.
One of the most notable aspects of his Triple-A performance was his ability to keep the ball on the ground. Soriano generated ground balls at a 55.7% rate, a valuable trait for any pitcher, particularly one who throws as hard as he does. Ground balls limit extra-base hits and can help pitchers escape jams even when they allow contact. That skill set was on full display throughout the season and served as a reminder of why organizations continue to invest time and roster spots in his development.
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Soriano’s Triple-A campaign also included a memorable highlight. On June 27, 2025, he was part of a combined no-hitter against the Nashville Sounds, an accomplishment that underscored his ability to dominate when everything clicks. By the end of the season, he had recorded a 4–1 win-loss record, struck out 49 batters, and notched two saves across 29 appearances at the Triple-A level. Those results painted a very different picture from his major league stat line and reinforced the idea that his struggles may be more situational than permanent.
From a roster management standpoint, Soriano’s situation is complicated. He has exhausted his final minor league option, meaning the Braves cannot freely shuttle him between the majors and minors without exposing him to waivers again. This lack of flexibility places him in a precarious position, as he must either stick on the major league roster or risk being claimed by another team if Atlanta attempts to send him down.
That said, Soriano still carries value beyond his immediate performance. He has more than one year of major league service time remaining and remains under team control for five additional seasons. Moreover, he is still two years away from arbitration eligibility, making him a cost-controlled asset if the Braves can harness his potential. For an organization that consistently prioritizes depth and long-term planning, those factors make him an intriguing addition.
Atlanta’s internal view of Soriano appears to be that of bullpen depth with upside. In the short term, he provides another option for middle or low-leverage relief work, particularly during the grind of a long season when injuries and fatigue inevitably test a pitching staff’s depth. If circumstances allow, he could also serve as coverage at Triple-A Gwinnett, though doing so would require navigating the waiver process carefully.
The roster move came at the expense of Brett Wisely, a versatile infielder who has found himself on the fringes of multiple big league rosters. Wisely, who will turn 27 in May, was claimed by the Braves from the San Francisco Giants in September. His time with Atlanta at the major league level was brief and limited. He appeared in just four games, went hitless in his opportunities, but did manage to draw three walks, showcasing some plate discipline even in a small sample.
Over the course of his major league career, Wisely has accumulated 466 plate appearances, during which he has produced a .214/.265/.319 slash line. Those numbers suggest limited offensive impact, particularly in terms of power. However, they do not fully capture his overall profile as a player. Wisely has long been valued for his versatility and baseball IQ, traits that can be difficult to quantify but are highly regarded by coaching staffs.
In the minor leagues, Wisely’s offensive production has been notably stronger. Over the past three seasons at the Triple-A level, he has posted a combined .276/.375/.436 slash line, good for a 113 wRC+. That performance indicates above-average offensive output relative to his peers, bolstered by a solid on-base percentage and respectable power. His ability to contribute in multiple ways has made him a reliable depth option throughout his career.
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Defensively, Wisely’s versatility is perhaps his greatest asset. He has experience at all four infield positions, as well as all three outfield spots, giving managers flexibility when constructing lineups or responding to in-game injuries. That positional adaptability often keeps players like Wisely employed, even if their offensive ceilings are modest.
Like Soriano, Wisely has exhausted his minor league options, which complicates his roster status. With the designation for assignment, he now enters waiver limbo, a period during which he could be claimed by another team, included in a trade, or potentially remain in the Braves’ organization if he clears waivers. For a player with his versatility and solid minor league track record, there is a realistic chance another club may take a flyer on him.
Ultimately, this transaction reflects the constant churn that defines roster management at the major league level. For the Braves, claiming Soriano represents a calculated gamble on upside, arm strength, and organizational pitching development. For Wisely, the designation underscores the harsh reality of life on the fringes of a 40-man roster, where even capable and versatile players can find themselves squeezed out by the need for pitching depth.
Whether Soriano can translate his minor league success into consistent major league performance remains to be seen. If he can refine his command and better leverage his powerful fastball, he could carve out a useful role in Atlanta’s bullpen. If not, his stay may be brief, much like his recent stint in Baltimore. Either way, the move highlights Atlanta’s willingness to explore low-risk, high-upside options while continuing to juggle the complex puzzle of roster construction.
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