Yankees' Alfonso Soriano hitting his way to stardom; second baseman's talent is drawing comparisons to some Hall of Famers, but his only concern is improving his game - With A Snap of the Wrists …

Baseball Digest, August, 2003 by Jon Heyman

BALLPLAYERS WHO HAVE SEEN IT all admit they haven't seen anything like the Yankees' Alfonso Soriano. Hard-to-please types, too, as in Sandy Koufax, Reggie Jackson and Joe Torre.

They can't gush enough about Soriano, a veteran of little more than two major league seasons.

Koufax, so reclusive he's heard from once every few years, called the other day to tell Torre he believes Soriano has the quickest hands he has ever seen. Quicker than Hank Aaron, quicker than Frank Robinson, quicker than Willie Mays. Quicker than Tommy Lasorda at the dinner table.

Jackson isn't easily impressed. This year, he submitted a blank Hall of Fame ballot. He resists the urge to get carried away by the latest hot name. Yet, Jackson can't stop boasting about Soriano. "I don't think we had a player like Soriano in the whole time I played," he said.

Jackson recalled two players who possess some similar traits, Joe Morgan and Rickey Henderson.

Torre said he sees "parts of a few guys" in Soriano. One of the guys Torre mentioned is Aaron, the all-time home run king.

Torre eventually decided no one has the wrists of Aaron. But the hands, Soriano has those killer hands.

"I don't know if anyone has quicker hands," Torre said. "He hits pitches off the ground. Snap."

It all seems a snap for Soriano, 25, who in his second full season last year was one homer short of becoming the fourth 40-40 player--40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in one season. And he shows signs of producing even more.

He's different. Forty home runs isn't so unusual anymore, but it's almost unheard of for a leadoff hitter and second baseman, and Soriano is both (he also has batted in the third spot in the Yankees batting order). Through May 26, he was batting .316 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI.

"It's tough to dissect him," Torre said. "He's pretty special."

If the Yankees didn't miss shortstop Derek Jeter when he was on the disabled list at the start of the season, it's because Soriano was producing like two superstars.

The hands are a key. But the heart is, too. After hitting a home run, singling three times, walking and flying out to the wall in the Yankees' 9-2 victory earlier in the season, Soriano looked dejected.

"I want to know why the ball didn't go out of the ballpark," Soriano told people.

Afterward, Soriano retired to the weight room. Though he is a wiry 195 pounds, with the body fat of a basketball post, he uses the biggest wood on the team, 35 inches and 33 ounces.

Some young players concentrate only on strengths; Soriano works on flaws. He has toiled diligently with hitting coach Rick Down on pitch selection, and he no longer swings at everything. He strikes out less often, though it's more than he would like.

"We talked about strikeouts," Jackson said. "He brought it up."

Soriano has been positioned to accommodate the most talented team in the world. He could play shortstop for several teams, and he would bat third for most. But he does not complain about manning less desirable spots.

"He's very dedicated," coach Willie Randolph said. "He wants to be the best. The thing I like about him is that' when I talk to him about things he's doing wrong, he doesn't take it personally. He wants to learn."

He's learning baseball history now. Soriano admitted not knowing much about Koufax or Aaron. After hearing Aaron's name for perhaps the 755th time this year, Soriano decided, "I know he's got 700-something home runs. I'll have to see a tape."

Some see a little of Aaron just by watching Soriano, and there is no greater compliment than that.