Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) won't make another appearance this season, manager Brian Snitker told reporters on Wednesday.
It is an unfortunate as Soroka is regarded by many as the Braves’ top pitching prospect. Soroka has been on the disabled list twice and last pitched June 19 at Toronto. He went 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA in five starts.
“We’re not going to see him this year,” Snitker said Wednesday. “Hopefully, he’ll get it going. I think the best scenario for him is the instructional league and be pitching and competing and go into the off-season normal. Then we’ll get him back in the spring and go from there.”
The writing has been on the wall for a while now in terms of this announcement but hadn’t been made official until now.
Soroka was the youngest pitcher in the majors at 20 when he debuted at the New York Mets with a victory on May 1. The Braves initially hoped he could return in September, but the organization decided about three weeks ago that it was unlikely.
Soroka has been throwing at the team’s spring training in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, but has yet to face hitters. If he gets cleared, Soroka will get back on the mound next month.
The Braves have used three other young top prospects in their early 20s — Kolby Allard, Touki Toussaint and Bryse Wilson — as starters this season.
Allard was recalled Wednesday for the fourth time and has struggled with a 1-1 record and a 12.82 ERA in one start and two relief appearances.
Toussaint, with a 1.50 ERA, and Wilson, with no runs allowed in five innings, are each 1-0 in one start.
The Canadian righty hoped to contribute in September. That always seemed ambitious, especially with the team’s delicacies toward its younger arms. An extended look at Soroka would’ve had several benefits, but the Braves had the depth to withstand his loss.
