Braves ace Mike Soroka suffered a torn right Achilles on Monday and will miss the rest of the season, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic was among those to report. The injury forced the right-handed Soroka out of his start early in a loss to the division-rival Mets.
Not only is this development horrible news for Soroka and the Braves, but it’s a blow to baseball fans who have been treated to his outstanding performance since he debuted in 2018. Still just 22 years old when he took the mound tonight — his birthday is tomorrow — Soroka was an All-Star last season who has registered a 2.72 ERA/3.34 FIP with 7.27 K/9, 2.17 BB/9 and a 50.4 percent groundball rate in 211 2/3 innings in the majors. Monday was just his third start of the current season, and considering the severity and timing of it, it seems fair to wonder whether Soroka will miss a chunk of time in 2021 as he works his way back.
Soroka’s year-ending injury continues a run of terrible luck in Atlanta’s rotation, which dealt with multiple problems before losing him. Righty Felix Hernandez opted out of the season over coronavirus concerns, and then big-money offseason pickup Cole Hamels went on the 45-day IL because of a triceps injury. After that, the Braves booted one-time All-Star Mike Foltynewicz from their roster in the wake of an alarming drop in velocity. Foltynewicz is still part of the organization, though, and may stand a greater chance of getting back to the majors this year in light of Soroka’s injury.
If Folty isn’t an option, the Braves could still look within, seek a trade or scour a rather uninspiring free-agent market to complement Max Fried, Sean Newcomb, Touki Toussaint and Kyle Wright in their rotation. One thing’s for sure: Even though Atlanta’s 7-4 and atop the NL East, this season has not gone according to plan for its group of starters.
So sorry to hear
Tough break for the kid, and for the Braves. This very well could cost him two full seasons and the Braves 2 years of service time, hopefully he can work back for next summer.
was such an awful injury to witness
only injury I saw live that was worse was allen hurns ankle when he was with the cowboys
These are horrible, witnessed Wainwrights and Howard’s. Hope he heals, bright young arm hate to see this
So him falling to the ground and then getting up and limping around before going back down in his knees was awful to witness? Lol okay weenie
Always the human clown shoe’ey lefty etc.?
2 injuries much worse to see happen were Joe Theismann breaking his leg and Dave Dravecky fracturing his arm throwing a pitch. Did not see either live but saw replays of both the day after they happened. Both were gruesome.
The Paul George and Kevin Ware injuries personally grossed me out the most
F**k
Freakin A, hate that for him. I hope and pray he makes a strong and successful recovery.
And just like that, the NL East is up for grabs again. Don’t count out the Marlins by the way. I am so sorry Braves fans. You’re still the best in the division, but this is brutal. You have my sympathy. Wishing Soroka a healthy return in 2021.
I wish this man all the best, but if he’s eligible to play in 2021 it’s a miracle Bc that’s the worst injury for any athlete.
Yup Howie Kendrick is a good example.
I’d contend thoracic outlet is probably worse for a pitcher, but in general you’re spot on
I’d agree on TOS. Matt Harvey, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Shawn Marcum, Matt Harrison, Clayton Richard, Chris Young, and Noah Lowry (from wikipedia) have all had it and only Young (one OK season, one good season) had any real kind of success post-surgery.
Didn’t Julio Urias also have it?
Nope. Shoulder surgery in his capsule
Josh Beckett did and was never the same. He was with LA and without looking it up, think it was similar timeline of those two injuries
I’m not taking any excuses from them if they miss the playoffs( I’m not saying they will.) mets are missing Thor and stroman. Who are both worse than Soroka. But it’s still two good pitchers getting hurt.
They won’t. Losing their young ace is huge, but the division is really weak at the moment.
I’m just saying if the Mets don’t have a excuse.. they definitely don’t either
Agreed. They didn’t make excuses when they suffered through injuries last year. Doubt they’ll make any this year as well.
I get what you’re saying but, if the Braves do miss the playoffs. You already know everybody (not just Braves fans) will be like… well you know… Soroka was hurt….
but the Mets miss the playoffs and it’s…. the Mets will be Mets… the Mets suck.
And they can finish 2d and still make the playoffs.
Probably. Haha. Which isn’t fair. I hear what you’re saying.
To be fair though, the Mets have a history of baffling moves by ownership and situations like the bizarre Cespedes saga. It’s not just the performance on the field that has given them that reputation
Haha lol
True, it’s still annoying. The Mets could have a talented team. As soon as they go thru a rough stretch or a player gets injured they start hating.
Who’s making excuses for either team? This is a weird season, anything can and has happened. There may not even be a playoff and you’re worried about excuses?
Who cares if they make the playoffs this year or not. Season may not even complete.
This is 2020 the year of “Novel” Coronavirus, the jokerz are Wylde, anything is possible
Thank you.
Yeah, this was bad. It looks like the Braves will need to explore a trade for some pitching help.
For several years we have heard and read about the Braves highly touted pitching prospects. It looks like it is time for them to prove their worth..
He’s on my static fantasy team… I hope he’s able to recover well for next year. He’s fun to watch pitch.
I knew it. once he started running and felt like someone kicked him.
Gotta feel for the kid. Only 22, and has this happen to him. Achilles are sudden to. You don’t know it’s gonna happen until it happens.
Damn . . . And a day before his 23rd birthday too : ( what a shame
Mets fan here and I hate hearing anyone’s injury. Hope for a clean recovery.
this division is cursed
You say that every time someone gets injured/sick bro come up with a new comment
Naw I believe naming teams after native Americans is where the curse is. Just look at the Redskins, and Chiefs as other examples kinda like the Braves bad luck for large periods of their existence.
Didn’t the Chiefs just win the SuperBowl?
Shhh! This is no place for fact and logic. Be gone you!
I don’t care if you hate the Braves. If you celebrate any injury (and especially one of this magnitude), you are, frankly, a terrible person. And tbh, I do not think the Braves win the division now. I’d go with the Nats.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Soroka and his family.
Thank you for the speech, we can all sleep better now
Lolz @mrmet6141 please do this on every one of these comments on every website for the remainder of my being…
I plead with Braves management not to give up a lot of our prospects for any pitching as we just need to give the kids a chance to develop. Consider this, we are probably just a few positive tests for the season to be shut down. So please do not give up any prospects for what in reality will probably a few games. Regroup and kick ass next year.
If the season doesn’t end, I don’t see how they won’t have to dip into their treasure chest of prospects to upgrade their SP rotation which was already a big issue, at least depth, possible talent wise.
Or they’ll be forced to bring up elite prospect (Ian) that possible aren’t ready and that type of pressure might be too much on any prospect.
I would be shocked if anyone trades this year unless it’s a clear “we want him for next year” trade. This season is so up in the air that nobody is going to take the chance just to have the playoffs cancelled
Ian Anderson?
The old Jethro Tull singer? Lost too much velo! Oh, and that nasty Locomotive Breath!
I actually went to high school with a kid named Ian Anderson. He only had one arm though. For the purposes of this discussion, I’m not sure which arm it was.
Prays for Soroka. No one in the Braves organization does a better job of taking care of their body than him. Even as a prospect, his dedication to his diet, conditioning, and health always showed up on the scouting reports. Tough break that a phantom, freak injury like an Achilles had to happen to him.
This is also a good chance to see the reverse Trout theory.
If one player isn’t good enough to put a baseball team in the playoffs, one player shouldn’t hinder a baseball team from making the playoffs. In this case, it just further highlights the failures of the front office to bring in any established veteran presence and depth. I know Hamels is hurt, but Felix was always a hopeful not a surefire thing.
We will see.
Should have prayed for him earlier and it might not have happened. Selfish.
This is horrible news
You just never know when injuries will happen; as mentioned he’ll miss time in 2021 too…could be June 1st before we see him on a major league mound.
June is optimistic, hopefully he surgery and rehab go smoothly.
Horrible news as a Mets fan I feel so bad for the kid
Maybe this will force the Braves to get real pitching this time. Whatever the case, the Braves deserve it for being a terrible organization.
You’re a terrible fan! Please move on to a different team.
Sorry you feel this way.
But this offseason is going to say a lot if the braves don’t address their rotation properly.
They have themselves to blame
Until then, enjoy watching the rest of the rotation.
.
Braves keep making all the wrong moves…by winning the division over and over again. What are you on about??
Thanks for proving my point.
I don’t even understand the point you’re trying to prove.
You just said they win division titles. Congrats to them. Then what? First-round exits.
They are complacent and dont go beyond what is needed to take the next step forward.
Soroka is my favorite Brave. Sucks he is out. But at this point, this is the second time he suffered an injury that took him out of the playoffs. Obviously I don’t blame him but this team has no depth. Don’t give me Wright, Touki, and all the other failed pitchers that have already come and gone. These guys are not good.
Time to bring up Anderson or Davidson. See what they have.
The season is lost. Use this time to weed out the weak and get rid of them.
Get real pitching for 2021.
Getting to the playoffs is thd goal. Once there it takes a combination of luck and skill. The best teams don’t always win. If you keep winning your division, you’re doing something right.
That is true when a team spends and trades but still falters.
The Braves don’t.
You can keep saying otherwise, but the results on the field speak for itself.
Any person with any knowledge of the game will tell you the Braves major weakness is their rotation and the reason they have not advanced past the 1st round.. Its been this way since the rebuild despite the irony in their rebuild being centered on pitching.
He’s not a “fan” of the Braves, he’s a troll.. He hasn’t had one positive thing to say on these boards about the Braves and talks about a 22 year old magnificent player being “overrated”, that tells you everything you need to know, and he still talks about how we lost in a playoff Game 5 last year v Cardinals when Foltynewicz should never have started that game.
“and he still talks about how we lost in a playoff Game 5 last year v Cardinals when Foltynewicz should never have started that game.”
So you agree the Braves make terrible decisions?
Man, I cant wait for 5 yrs to pass by so I can watch all you ppl look dumb when Acuna is on a scrap pile. Cant wait!
I understand criticizing an MLB organization’s decisions, but come on, on this post? Saying that the Braves deserve their 23 year old starting pitcher to get an achillies tear because they didn’t go out and get a few free agents just makes you come off looking like an a**.
Thank you mlb1225
This guy has done nothing but bash the Braves for several years now. Claims to be a fan but is ALWAYS negative.
I mean Acuna is one of the most exciting young players in the league and he thinks he will be on the “scrap pile” in 5 years.
Awful news, one of the best young pitchers in baseball. What is the recovery rate from this type of injury for pitchers?
Devastating.
But Alex A will find a way. Might have to dip into the prospect pool for an arm but this whole season is up for grabs so why not?
Why not? Because this season is meaningless and probably won’t even be finished.
Very sad news for Soroka. Hopefully he recovers back to 100%.
Who is next? Tucker Davidson, Patrick Weigel, maybe Ian Anderson?
That sucks, I hate seeing that and one of the worst injuries to have, he will likely miss part of 2021 season too. At least he got youth on his side but major blow.
Wish him a quick recovery
What would the Braves trade for Lance Lynn? He is a top ten pitcher right now.
Robbie Ray is another possibility.
He’s had two great starts but NOBODY would ever rank Lynn in the top 10 of Sp’ers on the planet.
But I’m sure the rangers will try to sell high. He would be a solid pick up to their rotation. But would be costly.
When I say top ten, I mean currently. And even last season he was at least top 15. Though throughout watching every Rangers game, I still don’t understand how he does so good. He throws fastballs down the middle to rack up strikes, and then high fastballs for the swing and a miss K. Personally, I see him as a really nice complement to Zack Greinke in Houston, though the reason I said what I did in the first place was because I think Atlanta is desperate for rotation help.
It seems like there are lots of injuries this Season ( no one worse off then Boston losing Sale and Rodriguez). I know certain teams look good Yankees, Twins, Cubs and Dodgers), but the winner will likely be the healthiest.
It certainly feels like it, but I haven’t seen anyone crunch the data yet. Feel free to let me know if you’ve seen otherwise. I’m definitely interested.
It’s a bit disappointing, tbh. Summer camp was short, but I feel these guys should have sensed that a season was going to happen and started their workouts and stretching earlier. The game itself is still the same; I think it’s just being pressed into live games sooner than usual is what’s doing it.
You knew it happened once you saw the replay. Tough to see for Soroka
Dial up Bartolo Colon, solid and still reliable.
Ryan Howard sends his sympathy and condolences.
Melancon, O’Day, Martin, Tomlin,Touki, Smith, Minter & Matzek have the ability to be a good to great deep bullpen.
Start Fried, Newcomb, Wright, Anderson, Davidson & hope for the best. Let the young guys try and figure it out.
I don’t see anybody on the trading block that would be a tremendous upgrade.
Not only that, but it’s a pretty much meaningless season. Lets use it to give experience to our young pitchers.
Not sure what it’s going to take for Atlanta to sign Bartolo. Just do it.
Free food.
Braves lost their only consistently good pitcher in the rotation.
Terrible injury. Hope Soroka recovers and is better than ever when he returns.
This could be a blessing for the Braves if they play this right. They have a stack of young arms and it’s time to find out what you have and re-asses things after the season. The next 2-3 years they have a window to win. This year they can find out if their farm system ranking was justified. A lot of pitchers were in their Top 10 the last couple years. See if they can hack it.
Ian Anderson getting the call?
It’s tough for anyone to get a serious injury but it’s a particular shame to see the most talented players suffer such a long-term blow. Hope he eventually recovers and continues to build on his promising talent even though I’m a Nats fan.
Respect from a division rival fan, dc. With the Sororka injury, and the Mets’ pitching injuries, your team may now have the edge. Can’t even say it’s a long season this year, though. If the Braves can’t figure out a Plan B in a week or two, they’re in trouble.
Man, I feel so bad for Sororka. Achilles injuries are tough, and such flukey things. Hope he takes the proper rehab time he needs, and is able to make a full recovery.
From a baseball side, it’s a really bad break for the Braves, too. I like Max, but Max really shouldn’t be fronting a rotation. I’m not sure where you turn in a trade though, aside from maybe Robbie Ray- if Arizona would even deal. They may just have to do their best with what they have, and see what the young kids have.
2020 continues to be the year of “blah”.
Trade for Robbie Ray. Has #1 talent, but not being utilized to his fullest ability in Arizona. Shouldn’t cost terribly much, as he’s a FA next season, and the D’Backs are off to a terrible start. If, in a couple of weeks they are still a bad team, the price will be even lower as we approach the trade deadline. Any deal needs to be contingent on an extension.
As for the “cost” of Ray, I doubt the Diamondbacks have forgotten being fleeced by the Braves in the Shelby Miller trade.
That’s a fair point, and I wonder about it myself. Atlanta clearly won that trade, although I don’t believe it was quite the fleecing it was made out to be. The Braves got a good young SS; and a light-hitting, glove-first CF. Still, I wonder if Zona would want a solid win in the court of public opinion on a Ray to Atlanta deal, though?
And AZ got absolutely nothing from Shelby Miller! So even a light hitting, GOLD glove winning CF would have been a fleecing…add to that what Swanson has done plus his continued improvement and possible breakout season this year.
So with this logic, the Braves should never again trade with the Cardinals. See Wainwright, Adam.
That, to me, is winning a trade, not fleecing- because I think a reasonable expectation would’ve been Miller giving Zona something. It didn’t work out. Did Coppy know something? Maybe. To me getting fleeced is giving up something of value for someone you know has been perennially bad, though.
They have enough games left against the Mets to guarantee a playoff spot. In post-season they should be fine.
That really sucks for them. They have enough depth to still make and do damage in the playoffs, though, if Acuna and Albies can heat up. Impressive that they’re 7-4, despite disappointing play from two of their stars.