BREAKING: Michael Soroka optioned to AAA Gwinnett
Just a day after making his spring training debut, Michael Soroka was optioned to AAA Gwinnett, the team announced.
"Maple Maddux", as he was referred to during his All-Star season in 2019, took the mound yesterday for his first outing of 2023 after a mild hamstring strain delayed his start to Spring Training.
LOOK: Best photos from Michael Soroka's return to Grapefruit League action
Soroka went 1.1 innings, with three hits and two runs (only one earned) with one walk and one strikeout. Additionally, he charged down the mound to field a bunt and make the throw to first, an eerily similar play to the one that caused the initial Achilles tear in the shortened 2020 season.
He reported feeling good both after the outing and the next day, telling reporters that there were "some things I need to work on still" but that it was nice to be out and compete, and that this appearance wasn't any sort of finish line, but rather "a continual process."
Entering spring training, Soroka was expected to be a candidate for the 5th starter's spot in the rotation, along with the now-optioned Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder. But, a hamstring strain, suffered the day before pitchers and catchers reported, kept Soroka out of game action until Wednesday and all but cemented his Opening Day destination as AAA Gwinnett.
Soroka's attempting to come back from two Achilles tears, the 2nd occuring on the day after he had the boot removed after the first tear was surgically cleaned up.
Prior to the injury, Soroka looked destined to be one of the top pitchers in all of baseball, being named an All-Star in 2019 after going 13-4 over 29 starts with a 2.68 ERA in 174.2 inning pitched. He was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year, losing to Pete Alonso of the Mets, and finished 6th in the National League Cy Young voting.
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