Atlanta Braves pitcher Michael Soroka had his first major league start in nearly three years on Monday.
The 25-year-old Canadian has come a long way, suffering two Achilles tendon ruptures and three surgeries.
On Sunday, coach Brian Snitker hinted that the Calgary native would be a starting XI in the game against the Oakland Athletics. Ultimately, he stayed on the mound for six innings and allowed four earned runs with five hits and two walks. He also retired three striking men.
“Everything he’s been through, going through and coming back is really an achievement for this young man,” the Braves driver said in a press conference. I have a lot of respect for the way he did it.
Soroka had his first major league moments in 2018, but it was the following year that he broke through. He finished 13-4 and had a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts during the 2019 season. In 2020, he was only able to play three games before getting injured.
The man who finished second in the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year poll had to miss the entire 2021 season and returned to the Minors in 2022.
This year, Soroka has maintained a 4.33 earned run average in eight starts with the Braves Farm Club in the AAA. In his last start on Tuesday he had a total of 58 catches on 96 throws.