Atlanta Braves: 3 Reasons You Haven't Heard the Last of Michael Soroka
Atlanta Braves RHP Michael Soroka is done for the season. Despite years of setbacks, here are three reasons you have not heard the last of him.
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.
Michael Soroka Refuses to Quit
Getting to the big leagues takes a certain level of determination and work ethic, in and of itself. However, Soroka has ruptured his Achilles tendon twice and hasn't pitched since 2020. Ten months after his first surgery, Soroka stepped through a doorway and ruptured it again. Not only would that be terribly disheartening, but it has to create a lot of fear.
After nine months of rehabilitation, Soroka faced another nine or 10 months just to get back to where he was. Plus, it isn't like he was performing any risky physical activities. The guy stepped through a doorway. That has to create a sense of distrust in your body while working through rehab toward a comeback.
Big Mike appeared to maintain a positive attitude toward his misfortune and his future.
"This process is not something I'd wish on somebody," said Soroka, "But I know I'll be stronger from it. I'm looking forward to that day when I can look back and draw strength from this entire process."
So, Soroka continued to work. It was miraculous that he made it back in 2023. It was miraculous that he even put himself in a position for us to speculate about how much he could contribute to the Braves rotation in 2023. Give all the credit to Michael Soroka and his work ethic.
Manager Brian Snitker had this to say regarding Soroka's work ethic and drive to return from the injuries:
"After everything he's been through, holy cow, there ain't nothing going to stunt that guy," Snitker said. "He's had everything thrown at him you can probably have these last few years and handled it all. He's a strong individual."
Michael Soroka Turned A Corner in 2023
After not being able to pitch since 2020, he got 120 innings of work under his belt. It's no surprise that his command came and went throughout his stints in Atlanta and Gwinnett. The Braves could have used a solid Soroka in the postseason rotation, but we probably should have been looking more toward 2024. Fans had their fingers crossed and we still saw the 2019 Rookie/ACE when he took the mound but the Braves never treated Soroka like the expected him to be a vital piece of the puzzle in 2023.
I disagree with this take from ESPN. "There were some promising outings at Gwinnett, where Soroka went 4-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, but he never resembled the guy who was one of baseball's most dynamic young pitchers."
Sure, Soroka had bad numbers for the Atlanta Braves this season. We can't sugarcoat that part. The question is, how much does that matter? Do you think the Braves front office is upset he wasn't able to come back after three years and dominate? I would bet they are thrilled that they got 120 innings out of him without a major phsyical setback.
Soroka battled mechanical issues all year. He appeared to put things together in August as he was named the International League Pitcher of the Month.
Michael Soroka back on a major-league mound.@nickgreen20 highlights the right-hander's slider. pic.twitter.com/xwSgRtPHIx
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 5, 2023
Despite a rough three innings for Atlanta, Soroka ended the 2023 season on a month-long high note in Gwinnett. He appeared to finally get some form of sustainable control.
After striking 34 batters in 26 innings in August for Gwinnett, Soroka started his final game against the Cardinals with two Ks in the first inning. Soroka made a couple of mistakes after that and then left the game with numbness in his fingers. Of the 30 hard-hit balls in the game, Soroka allowed two. All-in-all, not SO bad.
The amount of work Soroka got in this season is a huge step in the right direction. His dominance in August is a huge step in the right direction. Soroka will spend the offseason taking more steps in the right direction. He's got the talent, he's got the track record, and he's got a year of work under his belt.
Soroka has an immense amount of drive and an equal amount of talent. I'm optimistic about what Soroka will bring to the 2024 Atlanta Braves.