The home runs get the attention, but Marlins’ Jorge Soler is becoming a ‘complete hitter’

Jorge Soler joined a rare group in Marlins history on Tuesday.

With his two-run home run against Cristian Javier in the third inning of Miami’s 6-5 loss to the Houston Astros at loanDepot park, Soler became just the 13th player in franchise history to hit 30 home runs in a season and the first since Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna accomplished the feat in 2017.

It’s the type of gaudy power numbers the Marlins were hoping to get out of Soler when they signed him ahead of the 2022 season, a year in which he hit 13 home runs while being limited to 72 games due to an assortment of injuries.

“Mainly staying healthy was the main goal,” Soler, who was an All-Star for the first time in his career this season, said postgame Tuesday. “I think in an interview earlier this season, I told you guys there were going to be a lot of home runs. I’m very, very happy for that.”

It is just the second time in Soler’s career that he has reached the 30-homer mark. He led the American League with 48 with the Kansas City Royals in 2019. This year, he got to the 30 home run mark in 114 games, which is the fifth fastest in franchise history. He hit the mark in 115 games in that 2019 season with Kansas City.

But while the home runs get the attention — he’s tied with the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia and Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber for sixth in MLB in homers through games played Tuesday — the Marlins value so much more about what Soler brings in the batter’s box than just his sheer, raw power.

Soler, who has primarily batted second in the lineup this season, leads the Marlins in five offensive categories, ranking among the top 50 in MLB in all of them. In addition to the home runs...

▪ His .505 slugging mark is 20th in MLB

▪ His 52 walks are tied for 33rd in MLB

▪ His 65 RBI are tied for 40th in MLB

▪ His 64 runs scored are 42nd in MLB

“He’s been one of our best hitters if not the best hitter — you know, besides [Luis] Arraez — up at the top,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “Super consistent. I think he’s becoming a better hitter, too. It’s not just a home run that we’re looking for. I know 30 is an incredible number and a milestone for him this year — and it’s definitely not his last one — but I think he’s becoming a complete hitter. He’s hitting them opposite field. He’s hitting pull. Dead center. I think he’s more of a complete hitter than just a power hitter and it’s been great to watch.”

Especially as of late now that Soler is out of his mini funk that occurred following the All-Star Break.

After hitting 23 home runs in the first half of the season, Soler went into a slump following the All-Star Game. He hit just one home run in the first 13 games of the second half. His timing was off at the plate. He was “swinging at everything, every pitch,” Soler said, and struck out in more than one-third of his plate appearances while hitting just .154 in that stretch (8 for 52).

So, Schumaker gave Soler a day off on July 30 during the Marlins’ series finale against the Detroit Tigers.

“It helped me regroup,” Soler said.

Since that day, Soler has looked like the player from the first half who was named an All-Star for the first time in his nine year career. Soler is hitting .275 (14 for 51) with six home runs, one double, 11 RBI and eight runs scored in 13 games since that off day.

“It’s been a long time coming for him,” Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “He’s been working really hard over the past offseason. He’s just like an uncle to me. I’m really happy to see him thriving right now.”

Jorge Soler’s 30 home runs by the numbers

▪ 22: Number of home runs that have gone at least 400 feet, with a season long of 468 on May 9 against the Arizona Diamondbacks

▪ 17: Number of home runs that have either tied a game or served as the go-ahead run

▪ 17: Number of home runs hit in 57 games on the road, compared to 13 in 57 games at loanDepot park

▪ 13: Number of home runs against left-handed pitchers, the most in MLB.

▪ 13: Number of home runs off four-seam fastballs; Soler also has five home runs against sinkers, four against sliders, three against changeups, two against curveballs and one apiece against a cutter, slurve and sweeper.

▪ 3: Number of multi-home run games.

Marlins players with at least 30 home runs in a season

▪ Giancarlo Stanton (2011, 2012, 2014, 2017)

▪ Dan Uggla (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

▪ Miguel Cabrera (2004, 2005, 2007)

▪ Jorge Soler (2023)

▪ Marcell Ozuna (2017)

▪ Mike Jacovs (2008)

▪ Hanley Ramirez (2008)

▪ Carlos Delgado (2005)

▪ Derrek Lee (2003)

▪ Mike Lowell (2003)

▪ Cliff Floyd (2001)

▪ Preston Wilson (2000)

▪ Gary Sheffield (1996)