Atlanta Braves’ Star Rookie Mike Soroka Out for the Remainder of the 2020 Season with a Torn Achilles Tendon

On August 3rd, the Atlanta Braves were home in Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia to play the New York Mets. The Braves starting pitcher was Mike Soroka, who was an all star in 2019 and finished 2nd in the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year voting.

In the top of the third inning, Soroka had already allowed 3 runs to the Mets and had runners on 1st and 3rd base. Mets’ hitter J.D. Davis hit a ground ball to Braves’ 1st baseman Freddie Freeman who threw the ball the second base to try and get a double play. However, the Braves were unable to get the second out at first base, since Soroka was unable to cover the base, causing the runner on third to score the run. As he was coming off the pitcher’s mound, Soroka immediately fell to the ground on his knees. He managed to get himself back up, but was limping back towards the Braves’ dugout. Soroka had to be helped off the field by both Braves’ manager Brian Snitker, and the team trainer. Soroka was eventually diagnosed with a torn right achilles tendon, and will miss the remainder of the 2020 season. The Braves would lose the game by a score of 7-2.

This is a huge hit for the Braves, especially since they already had struggles with their starting pitching this season. Soroka finished the year with the stat line of: 0-1 record, 3.59 ERA, 13.2 Innings pitched, 7 runs given up (6 of those earned runs), 0 home runs given up, 8 Strikeouts, 7 walks, and .224 batting average against.