The Atlanta Braves may be languishing in the NL East, but they still had reason to hope for a rebound. With several injured arms returning in the coming weeks, and the hope that young ace Mike Soroka would be joining them, the Braves had been looking to make a move up the standings.
However, one of those arms will not be returning. Soroka tore his Achilles once again on Thursday, and is lost for the season as he will need surgery.
Medical Update on Mike Soroka –
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 26, 2021
This past Thursday while walking to the clubhouse at Truist Park, Mike Soroka felt a pop in his right Achilles.
Mike Soroka officially out for Atlanta Braves in 2021
Even though Soroka had not pitched particularly well in 2020 before tearing his Achilles, he was still solid while on the mound. He had allowed seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits and seven walks over his 13.2 innings, striking out seven. Those may not have been ace caliber numbers, but for a young pitcher working his way back after the pandemic related shutdown, that was a respectable performance.
The Braves were hoping that Soroka would be able to give them far more this season. He had showed signs that he was ready to be their next homegrown ace, posting a 13-4 record with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.111 WHiP over his 174.2 innings, striking out 142 batters with just 41 walks. Soroka showed an impressive ability to keep the ball in the yard, and while he may not have been the high strikeout arm that one thinks of for an ace, his excellent command and ability to generate grounders made him a potential top of the rotation arm.
That is what the Braves were hoping they would get back for their rotation. They have been missing that stopper, as the rest of their rotation has been inconsistent at best. With one of the better lineups in the league, the pitching has been holding the Braves back.
If that problem is to be solved, Soroka will not be part of the solution this year. He had issues with the Achilles even before Thursday, having undergone exploratory surgery several weeks prior, which had prompted manager Brian Snitker to say he was lost for the year. That turned out to be the case after all, although not in the way that Snitker had thought.
Mike Soroka tore his Achilles once again, this time while walking into the Atlanta Braves clubhouse. He is officially lost for the season.