Braves’ No. 1 prospect pitched five perfect innings on April 6 vs. Norfolk
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Gwinnett Stripers pitcher Mike Soroka has been named the International League Pitcher of the Week for April 4-7, the league announced Monday.
Soroka, 21, made one start during the week, a dominant performance in his 2019 debut on April 6 vs. Norfolk. The right-hander retired all 15 batters he faced over 5.0 innings, striking out seven in a 49-pitch, 35-strike outing. He earned his first win of the season as the Stripers shut out the Tides 7-0.
Ranked the Atlanta Braves’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 24 prospect in baseball by MLB.com, Soroka is currently tied for first in the IL in ERA (0.00), BAA (.000), and WHIP (0.00), and is tied for second in wins (1) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (7).
Atlanta’s first-round pick (28th overall) of the 2015 draft out of Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Soroka is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA over six career starts with Gwinnett. He made his Triple-A debut with the club last season, going 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and one complete-game shutout over five starts. Soroka also made five starts during his Major League debut with the Braves in 2018, going 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA before being placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on June 20.
Soroka is the 24th player in Gwinnett club history to win the IL Pitcher of the Week award, and the first since Touki Toussaint on August 27, 2018. It is Soroka’s first career IL weekly award.
# # #