Atlanta Braves

Mike Soroka feels healthy after throwing batting practice

Braves pitcher Mike Soroka gives the thumbs up while working the mound during spring training Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in North Port, Fla.
Braves pitcher Mike Soroka gives the thumbs up while working the mound during spring training Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in North Port, Fla.
Feb 24, 2020

Mike Soroka threw an inning of live batting practice Monday morning and remains on track to make his spring debut later this week.

Soroka, who was scheduled to start Sunday, was delayed after feeling tightness in his right adductor. The Braves took a cautious approach and pushed back his start to Friday or Saturday.

The 2019 All-Star suffered no setbacks during Monday's session and exclaimed he felt healthy shortly following the workout. Soroka, 22, is entering his second full season as a major leaguer.

“Outstanding, I felt great,” he said. “I felt awesome. I felt like myself. We’re all go.”

The Braves host the Yankees in a split-squad game Friday afternoon at CoolToday Park. They play the Rays Saturday night in nearby Port Charlotte.

Soroka missed spring training last year after offseason workouts left him with shoulder soreness. He didn’t make his first regular-season start until April 18, though he showed no lingering effects from the injury, posting a 2.68 ERA across 29 starts.

The Canadian right-hander finished sixth in Cy Young voting and received one National League Rookie of the Year vote — the only nod that didn't go to Mets slugger Pete Alonso. He also made his postseason debut, allowing one run over seven innings in Game 3 at St. Louis.

Soroka remains lined up to be the Braves' opening-day starter March 26 at Arizona.

About the Author

Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.

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