On Monday, Jorge Soler hit his sixth home run of the 2026 season while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, bringing him closer to a significant milestone in Major League Baseball. The Cuban athlete is just five home runs away from surpassing Kendrys Morales' total of 213 and becoming the sixth Cuban-born player with the most home runs in the history of the prestigious league.
The impressive shot came against the Chicago White Sox, with Osvaldo Bido pitching, during the top of the seventh inning with two outs.
This solo home run to left-center field recorded an exit velocity of 107.9 mph, a launch angle of 24°, and traveled 431 feet, according to MLB Statcast data.
With this homer, Soler now has approximately 208 career regular-season home runs, leaving him just five short of matching Morales' record.
Sports journalist Francys Romero highlighted the moment, stating, "He is now five HRs away from surpassing Kendrys Morales (213) and becoming the sixth Cuban-born player with the most home runs in MLB history."
Top Cuban Home Run Leaders in MLB
The historic ranking of Cuban players with the most home runs in MLB is led by Rafael Palmeiro (569), followed by José Canseco (462), Tony Pérez (379), José Abreu (261), and Tony Oliva (220). Kendrys Morales, who retired from professional baseball in February 2020 with 213 home runs, has held the sixth spot on this list for six years.
Soler's power surge this season has been remarkable.
On April 24, he launched a grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds, and on April 27, he added another solo homer against the same White Sox team he faced again this Monday.
Soler joined the Angels on October 31, 2024, via a trade from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher Griffin Canning, after signing with the San Francisco Giants in February 2024 for a three-year contract.
Born in Havana, the outfielder left Cuba illegally in 2011 after two attempts and made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2014.
His most notable individual achievement came in 2021 when he was named the World Series MVP with the Atlanta Braves after hitting three home runs in games one, four, and six.
In 2023, while with the Miami Marlins, Soler was one of four Cuban players to hit 30 home runs in the same season, finishing with 36 home runs in 137 games.
This April, he was also involved in an incident when, after hitting a home run against the Braves on April 8, he got into a fight with Dominican pitcher Reynaldo López, accusing him of intentionally throwing at his head.
If Soler continues his current power-hitting pace in the early weeks of the season, Morales' historic record could fall within days, putting him just behind Tony Oliva in the ranking of the all-time Cuban home run leaders in MLB.
FAQs About Jorge Soler's Pursuit of MLB Home Run Records
How many home runs does Jorge Soler need to surpass Kendrys Morales?
Jorge Soler needs five more home runs to surpass Kendrys Morales' total of 213 home runs.
Who are the top Cuban home run leaders in MLB history?
The top Cuban home run leaders in MLB history are Rafael Palmeiro, José Canseco, Tony Pérez, José Abreu, and Tony Oliva, in that order.
What notable achievement did Jorge Soler earn in 2021?
In 2021, Jorge Soler was named MVP of the World Series while playing for the Atlanta Braves, after hitting three home runs across games one, four, and six.