Under the Halo Podcast: José Soriano's Hot Start!

Los Angeles Angels ace José Soriano is off to one of the hottest starts by a starting pitcher in the modern era of Major League Baseball!

The hard-throwing right-hander joins host Trent Rush on this episode of the Under the Halo Podcast, the official podcast of Angels Baseball. In Soriano’s debut on the podcast, the duo discuss the first five starts of the 2026 season for Soriano, the historic significance, what’s different now vs. a season ago, the impact of new pitching coach Mike Maddux, becoming a father, and more. Plus, we remember the life of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson.

Catch the Under the Halo Podcast with Trent Rush for in-depth interviews with Angels players, coaches, and other members of the Angels family. Watch the podcast here at youtube.com/angels or listen at angels.com/fans, on the AM830 app, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Timestamps:
00:25 - Soriano’s incredible start to the season
00:52 - How have things changed for you compared to where you were a season ago?
1:14 - Dad life
2:22 - Team prankster
3:40 - The dynamic of the Angels starting rotation
4:17 - Who helped you when you were first coming up?
5:18 - The switch from a high-leverage reliever to a starting pitcher
6:19 - Learning from his mentor, Pedro Martinez
8:00 - Soriano’s favorite players growing up
8:56 - Transitioning from shortstop to pitcher
9:50 - Growing up in the Dominican Republic
11:20 - What was baseball like for you as a kid?
12:33 - Pitching coach Mike Maddux’s impact
14:15 - Facing Mike Trout and Zach Neto at the plate
15:16 - The camaraderie of the pitchers and position players
17:18 - Giving young Angels pitchers advice
17:53 - Soriano’s always smiling
18:10 - If he wasn’t a baseball player
19:08 - What does Soriano do in his free time?
19:41 - The story of how he met his wife
21:49 - The impact of having a support system at home
23:07 - Being the funny guy on the team
23:42 - Not letting bad starts affect you
24:28 - Soriano’s goals – personal and team
25:30 - Noticing changes due to his success
26:40 - Remembering Garret Anderson