I love playing in Miami, says World Series Most Valuable Player

Jorge Soler is waiting, but he does not lose his patience. The Most Valuable Player of the last World Series with the Braves lives his free agency without thinking much about what may come, because right now with the work stoppage between the Major Leagues and the players there is not much to do.

But that does not mean that the Cuban is sitting idly by. On the contrary, Soler gets up every morning and throws the bat on his shoulder to hit as many balls as possible and not be surprised by spring, whenever it is, and with the team that hires his services.

He does not deny that he would like to return to Atlanta, nor that he would love to play in Miami. At 29 years of age, Soler is at the most rewarding point of his career where he can stop to look at free agency with the vision of who he is desired. Picture it at loanDepot Park. Will it be possible?

Somehow this is a different winter for you.

“The preparation is going quite well. I am doing the same thing I have done in the past winters. I go to the gym in the morning and after I finish the gym I hit the field.”

How do you approach free agency?

“Right now I don’t know what’s going on with the situation but the way the Major Leagues are doing and the fact that there are no negotiations, there’s nothing. We are waiting. Nobody can start anyway.”

Do you still relive the victory in the World Series?

“It feels good, incredible, both for me and my family who were living that moment with me. I would like to go back to Atlanta. Yes, if possible, I would go back to Atlanta.”

If the Marlins make an offer, would you consider it?

“Sure, I’m really open to teams. The one that suits me best and the one that my family believes is the right one for that team, we will go. I love playing here in Miami, because many people you really know and have been knowing from there in Cuba can come here to see you. When you come to play here in Miami, you try to do more so that those people you know have a good show”.

You are no longer that prospect, but a veteran, do you dominate everything?

“That is not so true because you always have to pull your ear, but you already know the routine, what you do, what suits you, what does not suit you. It’s always about doing the right things to be able to give one hundred percent on the pitch. They will always correct you on the field”.

They still do it?

“Baseball is something you do every day and there will be a day when you start doing things wrong and you don’t realize why you’re out. The coach realizes what you are doing wrong. I have always liked being corrected, I always like being held there”.

What changed from Kansas City to Atlanta?

“I didn’t really make any adjustments, in Kansas City in the first half I wasn’t doing well at all. I got to Atlanta and things just got better. There was good chemistry, the team was aiming for the playoffs and maybe that motivated me to play more and that way things went well.”

What is your goal for 2022?

“It depends on the team that goes. Maybe it’s a team that’s going to enter the postseason and hopefully that’s the way it is because going to the playoffs again, that’s the best there is.”

This story was originally published on February 10, 2022 7:57 a.m.