KANSAS CITY, MO (January 10, 2020) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler to a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 

Soler, 27, had a breakout year in 2019, becoming the first Royal to lead the American League in home runs, hitting a team-record 48. His total was 10 more than the previous record, set by Mike Moustakas in 2017. His home run total also set a Major League record by a Cuban-born player, topping Rafael Palmeiro’s 1999 and 2001 totals by one. The right-handed slugger also collected a career-high 117 RBI, which tied for second in the American League and were the most by a Royal since 2000, when Mike Sweeney set the club record (144) and Jermaine Dye had 118. Soler also ranked fourth in the AL in extra-base hits (82), fifth in slugging percentage (.569) and seventh in OPS (.922).

Soler was acquired by the Royals in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.

For more information, members of the media may contact the Royals Media Relations Department at (816) 921-8000.