Braves’ latest transaction indicates Michael Soroka return is imminent

The Atlanta Braves’ latest roster move probably indicates Michael Soroka’s return is imminent.

A return some three years in the making could be on the horizon for Michael Soroka of the Atlanta Braves.

After rupturing his Achilles coming off the mound during the COVID season, the Calgary Flame formerly known as Mike has yet to pitch for the big-league club he was an NL All-Star for back in 2019. If and when he returns to the Atlanta roster, it will be such a huge and uplifting story for baseball. Fate would have it, it may be in front of 2,000 people at the Oakland Coliseum next week.

By optioning Dylan Dodd to Triple-A Gwinnett and recalling Son of Pudge Dereck Rodriguez, this could indicate Soroka making his triumphant return to the Atlanta rotation during the upcoming road series vs. the Oakland Athletics. The Coliseum rats have no clue they are being subjected to bad baseball on the reg, but they could be down for the Disney-inspired return of Michael Soroka.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com believes Rodriguez replacing Dodd probably means Soroka gets the start in Oakland on Monday, possibly staying in the Atlanta rotation into next weekend to start vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday on an extra day’s rest. Outside of Charlie Morton, Spencer Strider and now Bryce Elder, the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation are currently up for grabs.

With Max Fried and Kyle Wright still on the mend, Soroka’s return would be a breath of fresh air.

Atlanta Braves could welcome Michael Soroka back to the show early next week

Until proven otherwise, I am going to remain skeptical about the Braves’ chances of winning it all until the rotation gets healthy or the bullpen improves. The latter is a massive concern, so let’s hope Alex Anthopoulos can get some help there before the trade deadline without even further depleting the Atlanta farm system. As far as getting Soroka back, I am 100 percent all for it, man.

While I highly doubt Soroka will ever get back to the ace pitcher he was pre-injury, I hold out hope that he can be a starting pitcher on a contending team for the rest of his career. He may have to be of the back-end variety now, but he is still in his mid-20s. Soroka may not have as long of a career as we all thought he would, but there is so much talent to be had not to see a second act for him.

Ultimately, the A’s are the perfect team to give Soroka essentially a Quad-A start for the Braves. Oakland is beyond horrific since trading star player after another to Atlanta. If we do see him toe the rubber in The Coliseum, let’s hope the field doesn’t wreck him. I highly doubt that is happening, but Soroka has been snakebitten to hell in his recovery from his twice-torn Achilles.

If Atlanta can get five innings out of him in back-to-back starts in early June, I would be so elated.