Atlanta Braves: 3 Reasons You Haven't Heard the Last of Michael Soroka

Michael Soroka is done for the season for the Atlanta Braves. Soroka was called up to make a start against the Cardinals last Tuesday. He allowed five runs in three innings before leaving with numbness in his fingers. The concern following the game left us all numb with fear.

There was real concern Soroka had structural damage to his elbow and could possibly require Tommy John surgery. Thankfully, Soroka will not require surgery and has been shut down with inflammation. Now that his 2023 is in the books, we can look back on it and appreciate it for what it was.

The moments between his exit and the announcement that he just had inflammation made us wonder if we had seen the last of Soroka. The big-league numbers didn't look good for the "Maple Maddux" in 2023, but it was a huge step in the right direction for Soroka. Here are a few reasons we think Soroka could be back to his old self in 2024.

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."