Mike Soroka’s return to MLB will not be in 2022, with the Braves placing the starter on the minor league injured list with right elbow soreness, as reported by Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Manager Brian Snitker told reporters (including David O’Brien of the Athletic) there’s not structural damage, but Soroka will nevertheless be shut down and turn his attention to 2023.
It is yet another lost season for the now 25-year-old, who broke into the majors in early 2018 just shy of his 21st birthday. He would then deal with inflammation in his pitching shoulder and only pitched 25 2/3 innings. However, Soroka returned healthy in 2019 and posted a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts, totaling 174 2/3 innings with an average 20.3 K% and 5.9 BB% en route to an All-Star appearance, NL Rookie of Year runner-up, and a 6th place finish in Cy Young voting.
On the heels of his great rookie season, Soroka was named the Braves’ Opening Day starting pitcher, becoming the youngest ever in the team’s modern history. However, after only 13 2/3 innings, Soroka tore his Achilles tendon midway through a start — ending his 2020 season. Soroka began the 2021 season on the 60-day injured list while continuing his rehab. However, in a cruel twist, as he was progressing, he had a setback and was forced to undergo a second surgery on his Achillies, ending his 2021 season.
Soroka returned to the field in August, with the Braves optioning him to Triple-A Gwinnett after his activation as he worked his way back from three surgery on his Achilles tendon. However, in 21 innings pitched (five starts) in Gwinnett, Soroka has given up 20 hits and 15 earned runs.
In his absence, the Braves haven’t missed a step. Fresh off winning the 2021 World Series, Atlanta’s starting rotation has held steady. Led by Max Fried and Spencer Strider, the rotation features five pitchers who have each made at least 20 starts. Collectively, Braves starters have posted the sixth-lowest ERA, sixth-most innings pitched, and the second-highest K% at 25.2% league-wide
Soroka agreed to a $2.8MM salary to avoid arbitration this past offseason. He’ll be eligible for arbitration twice more after this season and is unlikely to receive much of a raise (if any) after another lost year, assuming the Braves tender him a contract.
Probably for the best and he can build up properly over the off season and spring training. Wish him the best.
I just wanna know who his orthpedic was so I know who not to go to
The arm and Achilles injuries are not related
No but he missed 2 years basically from the Achilles and I never heard of someone retearing an achilles just walking in the parking lot of a ballpark. Plus the elbow issue could be a compensation injury which can happen when rehabbing a different injury.
Actually, they could be related. I’ve had a torn Achilles and it takes a long time to fully heal and feel comfortable with that. Plus, he’s torn his twice and that hurts like crazy. Remember, Dizzy Dean broke a toe in an all star game and tried to pitch differently due to the pain and messed up his arm.
Im giving a like just for the mention of Dizzy Dean. Gashouse gang was a underrated team thats gets no love historically.
The arm bone ain’t connected to the Achilles bone? Dang, learn sumptin’ new every day on this site!
Obviously arm I’d not connected to achillies. The point he is getting at I’d that when playing with any injury the adjustments made to feel comfortable and push through can put undo stress on other parts of the body. Like walking with a limp affecting one’s back for instance. He could very well have tweaked his mechanics to compensate for the foot and in doing so putting stress on arm that usually not there with the delivery he’s accustomed to.
Thanks, and I get that. I was just crackin’ wise.
Many of us tweak a different body part while compensating for an injury (on a much smaller scale). The pitching mechanics of an elite major league pitcher is a whole other subject.
It’s a shame he’s missed so much time. Rooting for him.
I assume he is getting a contract this offseason, right?
I feel like they absolutely have to offer him arbitration. I know he’s missed a ton of time, but he’s too talented not to take a 3m dollar gamble on.
If the Twins gave Michael Pineda a two-year deal coming right off of TJS, I think the Braves would be nuts not to offer Soroka arb next season at a low cost. And that’s even if he only pitches half of ’23.
I’m very glad that Soroka was at least able to get back on the mound. That was a huge step in his comeback. I am very hopeful that he will be able to join the Braves rotation in 2023. That will be like a big free agent signing for the Braves!
Dude is WASHED
So washed that he’s pitched in 4 less games than Jacob deGrom has over the last 3 seasons. 32 to 36.
Wasn’t he shut down last year? Doesn’t sound good I’d you’re shut down multiple years like that.
Dude, he blew his Achilles twice. He hasn’t pitched in a while. Shut down doesn’t really mean much considering he had all of one potential start left in his current teams season. It’s no surprise his arm hurts a bit after not doing much for a couple of years.
He actually pitched fairly well until his last few starts. Maybe the arm soreness was the cause of the past few games getting roughed up some.
do you think he just took 2 years to sit on the couch?
Especially since he’s 6’5” and like 240lbs. Dude didn’t even start throwing off the mound until May. It just cracks me up when someone feels like they have to comment on everything even things they have exactly no knowledge of.
You mean like you do Smacky?
Bye Jeff! Muted.
He probably did sit a lot with a bad Achilles
I wonder how long it will be before Soroka pitches a MLB game again? Looks like Elder/Muller will get some hard looks next year and it might be a good idea to see if Morton would do another 1 year deal for 2023.
The team has a $20m option for next year if he doesn’t decide to retire. He’s a weird dude, but everything he’s said makes it seem like he’ll be back.
Ground Chuck!!!!
Next surgery is free on his punchcard.
Hope he doesn’t wind up like Mike Sirotka
At this point, I don’t think Soroka pitches again in a Braves uni. Dude has been catastrophically unlucky.
This is pretty expected. Although I still fear is he’s a bit more brittle than we already knew. Hope this isn’t a potential Tommy John situation or foreshadowing it in the future. If that happens he will always be the guy with sky high potential that just could stay healthy enough to tap it. Rooting for him! He’s elite, hoping he can make it back
It seems like every Braves top pitching prospect struggles with injury, performance or both. Their best pitchers always seem to be their 2nd tier prospects. Wright and Fried did turn it around this year.
The Dodgers struggled with Julio Urias last season. Then there’s Kershaw’s issues who is well known for injuries these days. This season, Gonsolin and May have spend significant time on the IL and Bheuler is on the 60 day IL now. This is a common struggle all teams are dealing with, especially young pitchers.
Along with Wright and Fried, you can’t forget Spencer Strider. He is a favorite to win ROY.
I agree all teams have to endure injuries. Missing pretty much 3 seasons though is quite a bit, especially with a guy with his potential.
Sure but the Braves have turned three stone starters. It’s easier to point to Soroka as the outlier. Again, I think I can point to the Dodgers AND the Mets to be having much more injury concern than the Braves. Additionally, Soroka is not the only pitcher to have struggled back from ligament surgery. Keep in mind ONE of those missing seasons was a play at 1B where Soroka got his ankle stepped on.
This guy is as talented as any young pitcher there is, tough break for him. Hopefully he comes back healthy for 2023
Soroka is done. He’ll never be good again.
Soroka is doen. He’ll never be good again.
He’s now spent nearly 80% of his 5 year MLB career on the DL. Check my math on that – almost all of ‘18, almost all of ‘20, and all of ‘21 and ‘22. At this point it’s worth considering whether any comeback is really in the cards…
25 y.o.; no structural elbow damage; recovering from two Achilles tear. Most healthy pitchers at his age are only starting to get their MLB cup of tea. If the Braves release him (which they won’t), I can see him getting a four-year, highly-incentivized deal as a FA.
Kid tried to ramp things up and get back. Hasn’t really thrown past 2 plus seasons. Needs a true offseason and true ramp up for a season then see where he is at.