Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Michael Soroka is as healthy as he has been in a long time, and could be extremely close to re-joining the major league club following some successful rehab stints in the minors. This has an immediate impact on fantasy baseball players, who will undoubtedly look to add the talented young pitcher to their squad amid his return.
Michael Soroka Fantasy Baseball News: When Will Braves Starter Make Return?
Michael Soroka is still owned in less than 5% of ESPN fantasy baseball leagues, giving most owners an opportunity to take a chance on the skilled right-hander before he returns to the Braves rotation sooner rather than later. The Braves announced Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder will start the first two games of their upcoming series against the Toronto Ble Jays. But the team has yet to name a starter for Sunday, choosing to give veteran Charlie Morton an extra day of rest and start him Monday.
This has led to a whole bunch of Twitter speculation that Soroka could be thrown back into the mix.
Michael Soroka watch 👀 https://t.co/oYBDHmkrKp
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) May 10, 2023
After placing both Kyle Wright and Max Fried on the injured list, the Braves could really use Soroka’s services, but it is also important that the team does not rush him amid the current rehab. It has been a long injury-filled road for Soroka after becoming the youngest Braves starter ever to pitch on Opening Day in 2020.
He tore his Achilles that August, missing the entire 2021 when re-aggravating that injury while walking to the clubhouse in June. Soroka then missed the entire 2022 season while getting continued treatment. Still, at 25 years old, Soroka could still carve out a long, successful career for himself if he can just find a way to stay on the mound.
Entering 2023, Soroka has made 37 starts at the big league level, going 15-6 record with a 2.86 ERA and 171 strikeouts. He has thrown over 20 innings for the Braves triple-a affiliate this season and has a 5.66 ERA thanks to one brutal outing his last time out.
Soroka has shown signs of the pitcher he was before injuries derailed his career, and he should certainly still possess the same stuff that had many believing he was the next great Braves ace to come through the pipeline. It remains unclear if Soroka’s next start will come at the major league level or not. And whenever his first start does occur, he will certainly be under a pitch count.
Fantasy baseball owners are going to have to be patient and play the long game with Michael Soroka. But given the potential, readers should still look to add the former ace as his return could be coming as soon as this Sunday against the Blue Jays.
