Michael Soroka's Chicago Cubs debut came to an unfortunate early end.
The Calgary native left his start on Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds after the second inning with right shoulder discomfort and will go on the injured list, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the game.
"He just said he let a pitch go in the second inning and just didn't feel good," Counsell said. "(He) finished the inning, but came in the dugout and said his shoulder was not feeling good. So, it's an IL and we'll see what the next steps are."
Counsell said he wasn't sure of the severity of the injury and that Soroka would undergo tests and examination.
"I don’t think we should speculate," Counsell said. “It's an IL and the doctors will take a look and then we'll go from there.”
It was Soroka's first start with the Cubs — also his birthday — after being dealt to the North Side by the Washington Nationals on Thursday.
The 28-year-old had thrown 31 pitches over the two frames, striking out three and allowing one run on a homer by Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson.
Soroka was averaging 90.8 m.p.h. with his fastball — down from his season average of 93.6.
"You’re always concerned when you have to come out of the game," Soroka told reporters, including ESPN's Jesse Rogers, after the game. "It's never fun. I'm embarrassed. You come to this org and hope to hit the ground running and two innings later, we’re having to pull the plug.”
Soroka was acquired for two minor leaguers to help fill a gap in Chicago’s rotation, with ace left-hander Justin Steele out for the season and Jameson Taillon working his way back from a right calf strain.
Before being traded, the six-foot-five righty owned a 4.87 ERA and 87 strikeouts over 81.1 innings with the Nationals this year. Soroka signed a one-year, $9 million deal with Washington this past off-season.
The righty began his career with a bang, going 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in an All-Star season with the Braves in 2019. But he tore his right Achilles tendon twice, causing him to miss the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
In 2024, he was 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA for the crosstown White Sox as they set the modern-era record for losses in a season with 121.
“His velocity has gone a little bit backwards and he's trying to figure out how to address that,” Counsell said. “I think he was very optimistic in the first couple days here that we could help him there and things could get better.”
Chicago brought Ben Brown in to replace the Canadian on the mound in what ended up being a 3-2 Reds win.
Coincidentally, Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo left the game in the second inning with a blister issue.
— With files from the Associated Press
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