Alay Soler

Who is Alay Soler?

Alain "Alay" Soler is a former baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets in 2006.

Soler attended high school at Espa Armani Arenado and played baseball for four years. He graduated from Nancy Uranga University with a physical education degree.

Soler played baseball for his country in the World University Games in Cuba in 1998 and in Italy in 2002. He also participated in the World Youth Games in 1996 and was a teammate of José Contreras on Pinar del Río in the Cuban National Series. He later played as a member of the Cuban national team.

Soler defected from Cuba in November, 2003, receiving political asylum in the Dominican Republic. He pitched for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter Baseball League in 2004, recording a 0–2 record and a 5.28 ERA in five games. In 15.1 innings, he allowed 14 hits, nine runs, with six walks and 23 strikeouts. He recorded 10 strikeouts and permitted one hit in 5.0 innings of work on October 26 vs. Estrellas Orientales. Soler averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

In September, 2004, Soler signed a three-year, $2.8 million major league contract with the New York Mets.