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Atlanta Braves: 5 prospects that should be untouchable

By Jake Mastroianni

MIAMI, FL - JULY 09: Mike Soroka #45 of the Atlanta Braves and the World Team delivers the pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JULY 09: Mike Soroka #45 of the Atlanta Braves and the World Team delivers the pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA, GA. – JUNE 13: Mike  Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves throws a first inning pitch against the New York Mets at SunTrust Field on June 13, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Mike Soroka

This one is pretty obvious after his small sample size with the Atlanta Braves in 2018. Mike Soroka made five starts with the big league club and posted an ERA of 3.51 in 25.2 innings pitched with 21 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.44 last year.

Almost everyone believes that Soroka has the stuff to be a top of the rotation starter for a long time. The only question is the health of his shoulder.

Over five minor league seasons, he posted an ERA of 2.84 in 69 games (67 starts) with 331 strikeouts in 370.2 innings pitched with a WHIP of 1.08.

He is never going to be a big strikeout guy, but he has a tremendous command of all of his pitches, which is something the Atlanta Braves desperately need in their rotation.

Soroka has a minuscule BB/9 rate of 1.9 in the minors. It did jump to 2.5 in his five starts with the Atlanta Braves, but even that is better than most of our pitching staff right now.

The 21-year-old right-handed pitcher missed nearly all of Spring Training and is working his way back with two rehab starts at Triple-A under his belt.

I expect him to be back with the big league club by the end of April.

The only reason I would consider trading Soroka in the future is if his health continues to be a problem and he can’t stay on the field.

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