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Atlanta Braves, Mike Soroka look forward to positive 2023

By Braden Livings

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 26: Pitcher Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on July 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 26: Pitcher Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on July 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Mike Soroka, a name that Atlanta Braves fans have honestly just not heard much buzz around in recent months, is set to return for 2023 Spring Training.

It has been an injury-filled journey for Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka

Soroka, now 25, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft from Bishop Carroll High School (Calgary, Alberta, Canada). As a 17-year-old, Soroka was sent to rookie ball where he would go on to pitch 10 games before the season ended. The young right-hander settled into the minor leagues nicely and found himself in Triple-A in 2018. Soroka was great, posting a 1.99 ERA in 22 2/3 innings and became the 30th-ranked prospect in baseball. The Braves did not need to see much more of this and Soroka was promoted to the big leagues on May 1, 2018. Unfortunately, just 12 days later, Soroka hit the injured list with a right shoulder strain.

After rehabbing the injury, the right-hander returned to the Braves on June 13. And this continued. Soroka was injured again, this time with right shoulder inflammation. The Braves placed him on the 60-day injured list and he was shut down for the remainder of the 2018 season. Soroka also missed the majority of 2019 Spring Training and was later sent to Triple-A Gwinnett. After working his way back up, the now 21-year-old was ready once again and was recalled to Atlanta on April 18. Soroka began dominating and looked very promising after ending his 2019 campaign with a 2.68 ERA in 174.2 innings and finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

Things changed in 2020 for Soroka, however. After the season began on July 23, Braves fans were excited to see what Soroka was going to bring to the table in the short season. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old only pitched three games before tearing his Achilles on August 3, forcing him to be shut down for the season. On March 30, 2021, Soroka pitched his first game back against the Boston Red Sox. Braves manager, Brian Snitker, along with GM Alex Anthopoulos, told reporters that they were confident that Soroka could make a return for the 2021 season. However, while Soroka walked to the Braves clubhouse in June 2021, Soroka once again tore his Achilles. This shut him down indefinitely.

On August 14, 2022, over a year later, after more grueling rehab, Soroka began a rehab assignment. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until late September. Yet another trip to the injured list, this time for elbow soreness. For precautions, Soroka was shut down from any more throwing activities.

Now, he is ready once again. Soroka, after a storybook last couple of seasons, is ready to go. The now 25-year-old will battle it out in Spring Training with Ian Anderson for the fifth spot in the rotation.

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Soroka is set to earn $2.8 million for the 2023 season in a deal which avoided arbitration. Despite all of this, Soroka is still just 25 and has plenty of time to prove to the baseball world that he can come back better than ever and live up to the first-round potential.

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