Michael Soroka's Resume and Track Record
I'll begin with a brief rundown of his resume. We all know he was really good in 2019 so I won't spend too much time here. Heading into 2019, Soroka was MLB.com's #24 ranked prospect in all of baseball. He did not disappoint for the Braves as he established himself as the ace by the end of his rookie season.
Soroka finished with a 2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 142 in 174.2 IP. Soroka led the league in home runs per nine innings, allowing just 0.7 homers per nine. He walked just 2.1 batters per nine and had one of the best groundball rates in the league at 51.2%.
He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, sixth in CY Young voting, and made the All-Star team.
The walk rates and homers per nine are worth noting when you review the numbers for the 2023 season. It's evident that his game is that of a control pitcher. He was at his best in 2019 and the struggles he had in 2023 jump off the screen as you read them.
Soroka has the pedigree and the resume. He has proven he knows how to channel his talent into success at the Major League level. He is still young enough to put this back together if his body is healthy enough.