Braves receive tough news on Mike Soroka’s rehabilitation setback

The Atlanta Braves did not receive good news on the Mike Soroka front Wednesday afternoon.

Shortly after taking both games in their doubleheader vs. the Washington Nationals, the Atlanta Braves did not get good news when it came to injured right-hander Mike Soroka.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, “Soroka felt right shoulder discomfort while pitching at the alternate training site yesterday. There is no structural damage, but he’ll be shut down for two weeks with right shoulder inflammation.”

Soroka missed most of the 2020 MLB season after tearing his Achilles tendon. While he did pitch some during spring training, this is not good news.

Even though he is only being shut down for two weeks, it is a different injury that is keeping arguably Atlanta’s best pitcher from rejoining the rotation. When he is at full strength, Soroka is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Though Max Fried filled in phenomenally for him last season as the ace, he is an even better pitcher as the No. 2 pitcher in the Atlanta rotation. What a blow!

Minutes after taking both games of a doubleheader, Braves Country has gone from feeling good about itself to feeling very concerned about when Soroka can get back to being himself. Once again, Atlanta sports can never have nice things. At least the Braves got their first two wins of the season after starting the year out in an absolutely dreadful 0-4 hole, so there is always that. Fantastic…

The Atlanta Braves must proceed with caution regarding Mike Soroka’s health

With Fried, Charlie Morton, Ian Anderson and Drew Smyly firmly entrenched in the rotation, Atlanta may have to go with a bullpen game every fifth day for a little while longer. While guys like Bryse Wilson or Kyle Wright could have earned the No. 5 in the starting rotation out of spring training, that role may now be occupied by Huascar Ynao, who pitched brilliantly in Game 2.

For now, Braves Country will just have to wait and see about when Soroka could be back in the Atlanta rotation. There is no hope that he will return in April after being shut down for two weeks. If he can get back to good after this brief shutdown, then maybe he can rejoin the rotation sometime in May. The last thing the Braves need to do is rush him back, so they will not do that.

Right shoulder inflammation will delay Soroka’s return in Braves uniform at least two more weeks.