Michael Soroka will make his return to Major League Baseball as the Atlanta Braves kick off their series against the Oakland A’s on Monday.
Soroka, a native of Calgary, has not played in the majors for nearly three years after battling through two ruptures of his right Achilles tendon and three subsequent surgeries.
The Braves announced Sunday night that Soroka would be the starting pitcher for the opening matchup of the team’s three-game series versus the A’s in Oakland.
“To go through everything he’s been through and now to get back is really a feather in that kid’s cap,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Sunday night. “I’ve got a lot of respect for how he went about it.”
The 25-year-old last played in 2020, when it appeared the young righty was on course to becoming a household name in the Braves’ rotation. But after tearing his Achilles twice in one season, Soroka’s MLB career was derailed for some time due to the recovery and rehabilitation involved.
Drafted by Atlanta at 28th overall in 2015, Soroka had a 15-6 record and 2.86 ERA in his first 37 starts over the course of three seasons. He finished second in National League Rookie of the Year balloting after posting a 2.68 ERA over his 29 starts in 2019.
Soroka suffered his first Achilles tear in August of 2020, with just three starts under his belt that season. He suffered the second tear in June of 2021 and as a result, Soroka missed the entire year, eventually making his return to play in the minors in 2022.
Currently playing with the Braves’ triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, Soroka has posted a 4.33 ERA over eight starts in 2023. He threw 58 strikes in 96 pitches this past Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays’ affiliate.
“He needs to be able to come up here and throw at least 100 pitches when he gets here,” Snitker said this week. “Covering innings is a big thing. Stuff’s getting better, and it’s just all headed in the right direction, really. I like where he’s (progressed). Leaving him there and getting these additional starts — I think when and if we need him, he’ll be ready.”