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Tampa Bay Rays #14-13 Top 15 Pitching Seasons

By Austin Reimann
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 13: Fernando Rodney #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of the game on September 13, 2013 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rays defeated the Twins 3-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 13: Fernando Rodney #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of the game on September 13, 2013 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rays defeated the Twins 3-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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    ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 12: Relief pitcher Rafael Soriano #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays follows through on a pitch in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on May 12, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The Rays defeated the Angels 4-3. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Rafael Soriano’s makes his only appearance on this list at #14. His 2010 season, the only one he spent in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform was an especially dominant one.

Rafael Soriano only pitched one season in Tampa Bay, and it was the best year of his career. Soriano recorded a career high 45 saves in 2010 and posted a sub two earned run average. He was a crucial component of a Rays team that won the AL East.

Breakdown:

Saves: 45

Blown Saves: 3

E.R.A.: 1.73

IP: 62.1

WHIP: .802

WAR: 2.1

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Soriano’s 2010 campaign was not only one of the best in Tampa Bay Rays history, but it was a career year as well. He posted the second lowest WHIP, the second highest ERA+ and the second lowest ERA in his career.

Soriano also made his first and only All-Star team in 2010 and received Cy Young and MVP votes, becoming the first Rays closer to ever receive both kinds of votes. Coming in 8th place in the Cy Young Voting marked only the second time in Rays history that a closer placed on the ballot, the first being Roberto Hernandez in 1999. At that point it was the highest a closer had ever finished on the ballot. Josh Hamilton won the MVP in 2010 but Soriano received more votes than any other pitcher on the ballot.

Rafael Soriano was the stopper for the division winning Rays in 2010 closing out 45 games, posting a career high in saves and receiving Cy Young and MVP votes. 

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