The Los Angeles Angels may not be topping the American League standings this season, but they're certainly not short on star power. While Mike Trout's resurgence has been a thrill to watch, another Angel is stealing the spotlight—and he's doing it on the mound.

Jose Soriano has been nothing short of sensational. In fact, USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently called him the best pitcher in baseball, drawing a bold comparison to none other than Shohei Ohtani. "Soriano has always had the talent, but it has never transformed to consistency on the mound," Nightengale noted. "That has dramatically changed this year. He could be the Angels' best pitcher since they had that two-way dude, Shohei Ohtani."

Losing a generational talent like Ohtani a few years ago was a massive blow for the franchise. But Soriano's emergence is providing a much-needed silver lining. Through seven starts this season, he's posted a jaw-dropping 0.84 ERA, a 5-1 record, and a 2.6 bWAR—numbers that put him in elite company.

If Soriano maintains this pace over 33 starts, he'd be looking at a season with over 10.0 bWAR and a very strong case for the AL Cy Young award. While sustaining such a torrid stretch is no easy feat, even pitching close to his current level could see him achieve something Ohtani never did in Anaheim: win a Cy Young.

Soriano's breakout isn't just impressive—it's historic. He's not just pitching well; he's been the best starting pitcher in the sport this season. And for an Angels team looking to rebuild its identity, having a new ace in the making is exactly the kind of story every fan loves to follow.