Michael Soroka has worked very hard to get back to a baseball mound and while it's been a tough year so far with being called up to the Atlanta Braves just to be sent down after two starts, Soroka didn't let that break him.
Soroka was sent back down to Triple-A Gwinnett and has been pitching really well. So well, in fact, that he earned the honor of International League Pitcher of the Week.
The Atlanta right-hander pitched against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in game two of a doubleheader. Soroka tossed a complete game going seven innings allowing one run on one hit with two walks and nine strikeouts. In the minor leagues, all doubleheaders are played in seven innings so that's why it was considered a complete game.
Soroka's nine strikeouts are a season-high for him in 2023, as the Stripers’ won the game 8-1. The Canada native carried a no-hit bid through 6.2 innings and was one out away from the first no-hitter in Stripers history.
Join us in congratulating Michael Soroka on winning International League Pitcher of the Week.
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) June 26, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/oVcYfzJ6rx pic.twitter.com/qMNZJV94BY
Unfortunately, Soroka allowed a solo home run with two outs in the inning to end the no-hit bid. He recovered well and got the next batter on a strikeout to finish out the complete game. This gave Soroka his third complete game professionally. The other two were with Rome in 2016 and Gwinnett in 2018.
Soroka is the first Gwinnett Striper to earn the International League's Player of the Week award. This is a very good sign to see for a player that so many Braves fans are rooting for.
In 11 starts with the Stripers so far, Soroka is 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA across 54.1 innings pitched. Opponents are batting just .215 against him over that time frame as well.
Smith-Shawver was scheduled to pitch Wednesday. Soroka now seems to be the likely choice. He would start with an extra day of rest on Wed. https://t.co/c0rPZ8oqd6
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 26, 2023
There is reason to believe Soroka will be called up to pitch against Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon. A.J. Smith-Shawver was optioned to Gwinnett after Sunday's game with the Reds. He was sent down to make room for a fresh arm after the Braves' bullpen was taxed a bit during that series.
Many believe this will give Soroka the chance to start since that would be on the right schedule for him. Soroka would be able to start for Atlanta on Wednesday with an extra day of rest. It hasn't been confirmed yet but it's pretty much expected for the Braves to make that move.