April 29: Soroka has been cleared to begin “simple” throwing exercises, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com, adding that the Braves indeed feel the righty is more than a month away from returning. Manager Brian Snitker indicates that Soroka effectively has to “start over” with his buildup to the season. “We’ve just got to be patient with him,” said Snitker.
April 27: Braves righty Mike Soroka has yet to pitch in 2021 thanks not only to last year’s season-ending Achilles tear but also due to some inflammation that’s popped up in his shoulder. While Soroka’s most recent MRI did not reveal any structural damage, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported today (video link) that it did show some lingering inflammation. Soroka won’t begin throwing until that’s cleared out, and at that point, he’ll effectively need a full, Spring Training-esque buildup before he returns to the big leagues. Morosi suggests he isn’t likely to return until sometime in June, at the earliest.
That’s a tough blow for Braves fans and for a team that was originally hoping to have Soroka back around late April. The Braves are likely proceeding with some extra caution, however, as Soroka was twice placed on the injured list during his rookie season due to shoulder troubles — the second stint proving to be a season-ender
Soroka returned with a flourish in 2019, rattling off 174 2/3 innings of 2.68 ERA ball, a 20.3 percent strikeout rate, a 5.8 percent walk rate and a league-best 0.7 homers per nine innings pitched. He appeared in just three games last season, however, before suffering a torn Achilles tendon when coming off the mound to cover first base on a grounder to the right side of the infield.
It’s been another rocky season for the Atlanta rotation, which added veterans Charlie Morton ($15MM) and Drew Smyly ($11MM) on a pair of relatively high-priced one-year deals this winter. Braves starters have combined for a 5.29 ERA that ranks 29th of 30 teams.
Morton leads the club with five starts and 28 1/3 innings pitched, but he’s struggled to strand runners and is has a 4.76 ERA in the earlygoing (albeit with much better secondary marks). Max Fried has struggled through three starts and is currently alongside on Soroka on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. Smyly has also had an early IL stint, while Ian Anderson hasn’t quite replicated last year’s brilliant rookie showing.
Among the team’s fill-in starters, Huascar Ynoa has impressed, piling up strikeouts in bunches while yielding just six runs through 21 frames. The results haven’t been as sharp for either Bryse Wilson or Kyle Wright, though Wilson has made just two appearances and Wright only one.
For the time being, the Braves will roll with Morton, Anderson, Smyly, Ynoa and Wilson starting games. It’s a solid bunch, but the absence of the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up (Soroka) and the 2020 fifth-place Cy Young finisher (Fried) is rather glaring. A healthy group of Soroka, Fried, Morton, Anderson and Smyly could be one of the most imposing rotations in the Majors, but it doesn’t seem like we’ll see that quintet together in the near future.
He’s never going to be anything, dude is like a bad car. You just keep throwing repairs at it and it breaks down again.
He’s 23 years old.
I remember when that was said about MVFree.
RunDMC is right. Remember when Jason Heyward was considered the #1 overall prospect in all of baseball? The Braves took Heyward in the 1st round and Freeman in the 2nd. Somehow Heyward was considered to be the 2nd coming of Willie Mays but Freeman wasn’t even considered a top 100 prospect. Soroka is very young and talented. He is 4 years younger than Fried. Anything can happen. My only question about the Braves is why are all these pitchers getting shoulder injuries when they are already on the IL? Soroka went down with an achilles injury but injured his shoulder while he was deactivated? Chris Martin went on the IL with a finger injury but injured his shoulder while he was deactivated? Even Cole Hamels… Hamels went on the IL for an elbow injury but sustained a career ending shoulder injury while he was deactivated? No player should get injured when they are deactivated. Especially not while they are training and rehabbing with the team. The whole point of rehab is to get healthy, not somehow get more injured. Especially not a shoulder injury and especially not for a pitcher. How do the Braves have this happen 3 times in less than a year to big star players when it should never happen at all? The same thing happened to Tooki Toussaint. He isn’t as big of a deal as the other 3 pitchers but still… It begs the question: Why do Braves pitchers keep getting shoulder injuries when they aren’t even playing?
You make a valid point, but pitchers have to throw before they’re activated.
Perhaps Soroka’s shoulder issues would not have arisen had he played all last season. It’s hard to tell.
That is fair when it comes to Soroka. He has been out for awhile. What’s the explanation for Hamels and Martin though? I know for a fact that Hamels injured his shoulder while rehabbing with a medicine ball. I’ve noticed they haven’t explained the Martin, Soroka, Touissaint injuries. It seems like it could be part of the Braves rehab process. I don’t know. I’m just speculating. They explained that Hamels injury was from rehab and then had 3 more pitchers go down with the same injury but never explained how. I’m guessing they put all of those pitchers through the same failed process they put Hamels through. I admit it is speculation but since they stopped explaining why high top pitchers keep getting shoulder injuries when they aren’t even pitching all I have left is speculation.
Kind of a ridiculous statement for a guy who’s been pretty legit in his young career and this is the first real setback he’s had. Albeit a long overall setback
The trick is to get ahead in the count. If you get ahead in the count you can look for the fastball. But they will come with breaking balls and off speed. And honestly you would have known this if you paid attention to everyone’s else’s at bats. But you were to busy posting your new cleats on Instagram.
mvfreep –
Classic troll comment. Good job, buddy.
Yeah maybe not. If he ends up averaging a 130-160 innings per season on his career and ends up being a mid rotation piece – you’d have to be super disappointed as a Braves fan. That’s seems just as likely to me than becoming an ace with his struggles w health and inability to hit high strike out numbers.
When the Mets win the division I better not see excuses. The Mets are missing lugo syndergaard and cookie rn
I wouldn’t celebrate just eat. You guys have only played 17 games.
IF the Mets win the division it will only be because they have the wealthiest owner in MLB history. Ever watch Moneyball? Seriously unfair competitive advantage. MLB is the only sport where that kind of unfair advantage is allowed to happen.
No team with a defense as bad as the Mets is winning anything.
I mean soccer sayd hello
MetsFan22 –
Dude….do you have a job? Any hobbies or interests? A girlfriend? Or have you just dedicated your entire life to being the most annoying of all commenters on any website anywhere in the world? If so, job well done.
The Mets have the best starting pitcher (deGrom). Everyone knows that. If I were a Mets fan I would be extremely concerned why the team consistently struggles to scores runs in games that deGrom starts. It’s been a problem not just this year but for many years. I just don’t see this team winning the NL East when they can hardly even put any offense together for their star pitcher.
God knows MetsFan will make enough excuses for all of us if the Mets lose. First thing he will say is how they didn’t have Cookie, Syndagaard or Lugo but here he’s talking about no excuses.
Your Top 3 team is barely 3rd in the NL LEast division. Cool down, kid.
At least the Braves were not no-hit by Bumgarner.
For 7 innings, doesn’t do it for me. It’s a birthday party for a 9 year old. But they only blew out 7 candles. You don’t get your wish.
Hopefully he’s not rushed and can fully heal up.
Lots of injury bugs in the early going.
Braves offense needs to wake up and help carry the puzzle pieces rotation like last year.
No need to rush him as there’s still a ton of talent on that team. Just get to the trade deadline and reassess. There will be some high-caliber arms available and the Braves have better prospects to deal than most teams, the Dodgers included.
Milone will be available I heard.
People need to put to rest any worthwhile trades with AA on the hill.
His criteria is – cheap, 1 yr, and must have at least 1 good start within the last year.
AA is one of the best in the business.
He made a mistake not trading for Arenado. The Cards gave up nothing for him.
The Braves need to be all over Story this deadline.
I’ll trust AA over some fan who’s in full-panic mode on April 27.
Yuck…no. I am all for a SS upgrade but that a Story without a happy ending. Whatever happens, I am ready for a Swansong. (Sorry).
I’d trade Albies before Swanson any day of the week. Maybe someone from another city will tell Mr. Albies to stop trying to be a homerun hitter.
Regardless, I’d rather keep both and move Story to third.
Get rid of Riley and Pache in a trade.
Yes, AA should just trade the whole team.
Pache no.
Riley, maybe.
Swanson, no.
Albies? Maybe. He doesn’t do anything that’s irreplaceable.
@vtnsc. I doubt Albies gets traded anytime soon. Number 1 reason being him and Acuna are buddies. I don’t think the Braves want to sour their superstar. As much as people say the Braves ripped off Acuna/Albies in reality those guys are set for life financially. Albies bat will come back around. Pache needs a little seasoning in AAA. Riley has started to hit finally. Swanson has value for the team. I myself wouldn’t trade any one of them unless the offer was overwhelming.
He’s squandered 10,000,000s in prospect value hanging onto all these guys who have busted out over the past few seasons. Braves could have way more talent on their current roster if doing so. Arenado could easily be a brave over card too. If he’s one of best in business – there’s room at the top for new talent
The Braves are not a mega payroll team. I doubt Arenado and his 35 million a year salary would’ve made AA make that trade. I don’t think the Braves will even give Freddie 30 million a year.
Seems that batting order misses the stability of Markakis, if not in the batters box then in the dugout…