Michael Soroka

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Wherever he has gone, Soroka has been the youngest player on the field. And when he made his MLB debut in early May he was the youngest player in the majors. Less than three years after he was drafted, Soroka was in the big leagues holding the Mets to one run over six innings. He made four more starts for the Braves before being shut down with shoulder soreness. He didn't return until a brief instructional league outing.
  
  Scouting Report: Soroka attacks hitters with a sinker/slider combination that generates more weak contact than strikeouts. He mixes a plus 92-94 mph two-seamer that he works down and in to righthanded hitters (and down and away from lefthanders) with a 92-94 mph four-seamer that he elevates. He is at his best when he's keeping the ball down, which sets up his above-average 85-87 mph slider that he turned into a harder, sharper pitch in 2018. Soroka mixes in an average changeup sporadically against lefthanded hitters. What makes it all work is Soroka's plus control and above-average command. He has a clean delivery and has long impressed with his competitive, mature makeup.
  
  The Future: Soroka showed his normal velocity at instructs, and the Braves expect he will be at full strength for spring training. But Soroka's shoulder injury was a first hiccup for a pitcher who had never suffered a setback as a pro. He should pitch in the Braves rotation in 2019. His command, stuff and outstanding makeup fit the mold of a mid-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 2018
  The Braves skipped Soroka over high Class A in 2017 and made him the second-youngest player in Double-A on Opening Day. He responded by finishing second in the Southern League in ERA (2.75). Soroka is a sinker/slider pitcher who touches 95 mph but lives at 90-93 mph with his two-seamer. His delivery has a little crossfire action that adds deception and has not affected his plus control. He started to throw his four-seamer more to alter hitters' eye levels. Soroka's plus breaking ball is hard to classify. At it's best it's an above-average 84-86 mph curveball because of 1-to-7 shape, but it's tighter and has a sharper break than normal. When his adrenaline is flowing, it morphs into a high-80s pitch with slider tilt. His changeup flashes above-average with some late run but could use more consistency. It's vital for Soroka to handle lefties. His sinker and breaking ball eat up righthanders, but those same offerings end up down and in where lefties can feast, so his changeup must show run away from lefties. Soroka's pure stuff doesn't match Kyle Wright, Luiz Gohara or Ian Anderson, but his exceptional makeup, pitchability and athleticism make him a safe bet to be a mid-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #4 prospect in 2017
  The Braves loved what they saw in Soroka when he pitched on the Canadian Junior National Team and they took the righthander with the 28th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Efficient due to his advanced feel for pitching, Soroka wound up working more innings (143) than any prep first-rounder in his first full season in at least a decade. He served as No. 1 starter in both rounds of the South Atlantic League playoffs for low Class A Rome. Soroka's intelligence is readily apparent on the mound and helped him adjust after lefthanded hitters pounded him in his pro debut. He switched sides of the pitching rubber to locate better to his glove side and it worked. He limited lefthanders to a .648 OPS in 2016. Soroka mixes three above-average pitches with aplomb and generates lots of groundouts due to his plus control and ability to pound the lower half of the strike zone. His 90-92 mph fastball has excellent sinking action and touches 95 when he guns for a strikeout. His curveball has tight spin, his changeup has solid movement and he reads hitters' swings to attack their weakness. Strong with a solid presence on the bump, Soroka is a former hockey player and a solid all-around athlete who fields his position well. Soroka was one of the youngest players in his draft class and among the youngest pitchers in the SAL in 2016. While his next step will be high Class A, he projects as a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #9 prospect in 2016
  The Braves nabbed Soroka with the 28th overall selection in 2015 as compensation for the Twins signing Ervin Santana. Soroka helped the Canadian Junior National team finish third in the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Games. He also tossed 13 scoreless innings during the team's trip through the Dominican Summer League in May prior to becoming the highest-drafted player ever out of Alberta. Soroka pounds the strike zone aggressively with three pitches and works off his consistent low-90s fastball with solid movement. The solidly built hurler has excellent athleticism, commands his stuff to both sides of the plate and does an excellent job of living in the lower part of the strike zone. Soroka's above-average curveball shows tight spin and a late, sharp downward break. He has shown a good feel for an early-stages changeup. Soroka's cross-body finish created some concerns among scouts, even though he has not had any injury problems. Soroka was limited to 34 innings in his first taste of pro ball. The Braves will be patient with the Canadian's development--he's one of the youngest players in his draft class--though he could open the 2016 season at low Class A Rome.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #90 prospect in 2015 draft
  There hasn't been a player out of Alberta selected in the top 100 picks since the Red Sox picked Chris Reitsma 34th overall in 1996, and while Soroka probably won't go that high, he should end up off the board in the first few rounds in June. Armed with three pitches, Soroka attacks hitters with a low 90s fastball that he can spot down and to both sides of the plate. His best pitch is his above-average curveball, which projects as a plus pitch. In a spring start against the Toronto Blue Jays, Soroka's breaking ball froze righthanded hitters, including star catcher Russell Martin. The pitch is as tight as any breaking ball in this class, and breaks very late as it drops into the bottom of the strike zone with 12-to-6 or 11-to-5 shape. Soroka also has feel for a changeup, which scouts see as a potential average pitch. There's some concern about the across-body finish to his arm action, but he has no history of arm trouble and has a physical, 6-foot-5 body. Soroka projects as a middle of the rotation starter, though he is a strong student and may be tough to sign away from his commitment to California.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #4 prospect in 2017
  After tossing 143 innings in his full-season debut in 2016, the durable Soroka added 154 more this season while jumping directly from low Class A to Double-A as a teenager. He ranked second in the SL in ERA (2.75) and walk rate (2.0 per nine innings) as the ace of the Mississippi pitching staff, the youngest in the league. Soroka exudes confidence and poise on the mound and has a simple, repeatable delivery that translates to plus command. He pitches at 92 mph and tops out at 95 with a live fastball he can sink for ground balls or ramp up for strikeouts. Soroka throws a plus slider as an out pitch, using it to expand the zone versus righthanders and to back-foot lefthanders. Soroka's average changeup runs away from lefthanders and keeps them from sitting fastball. He began throwing an average curveball early in counts to alter eye levels and change the velocity range from his slider and changeup.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #7 prospect in 2016
  A 2015 first-round pick, Soroka threw 143 innings during the regular season and added another 15 during the playoffs, giving him the heaviest workload of any high school first-round pick in his first full season in the past decade. But the Braves didn't worry about Soroka's innings because he is so efficient. He showed an ability to work six or seven innings on just 65-85 pitches. When Soroka is rolling, everything starts with a 90-92 mph sinker that generates early-count ground balls. He can reach back for 95 mph when he needs it as well. His curveball and changeup are both above-average pitches, and he has above-average control of all three, giving him a chance to stay one step ahead of hitters. One of the younger pitchers in the SAL, Soroka pitched like a much older veteran, showing an ability to read swings, make adjustments and diagnose delivery issues.
• 
  Ranked National League #8 prospect in 2015
  Soroka showed off an upper-80s fastball and tight breaking ball in the 2013 Perfect Game showcase. Over the next 18 months, the Calgary-born righthander gained significant strength, saw his fastball increase in velocity and signed with the Braves for $1,974,700 as the 28th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Soroka projects as a three-pitch horse. His fastball operated in the low 90s at Danville, and he flashed feel for his changeup and sharp breaking ball. He pounded the strike zone with all three pitches, surrendering just four walks. None of Soroka's individual pitches is overwhelming, but he can compete in the strike zone with each pitch, and he has the athleticism and balance to consistently throw strikes. Soroka's control is above-average at present, and he could develop plus command as he continues to build innings. As one of the youngest players in his draft class, he did not turn 18 until August.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #48 prospect in 2017

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  A recurring shoulder injury is going to wipe away much of his 2018 season and is a concern going forward, but before his injury, Soroka gave Braves fans a taste of what could be. He combines solid stuff (92-94 mph fastball that has monster sink at times) with a potentially above-average slider and changeup. Soroka has not only the makings of a solid mid-rotation starter, he was showing he could fill that role before he headed to the disabled list.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves skipped Soroka over high Class A in 2017 and made him the second-youngest player in Double-A on Opening Day. He responded by finishing second in the Southern League in ERA (2.75). SCOUTING REPORT: Soroka is a sinker/slider pitcher who touches 95 mph but lives at 90-93 mph with his two-seamer. His delivery has a little crossfire action that adds deception and has not affected his plus control. He started to throw his four-seamer more alters hitters' eye levels. Soroka's plus breaking ball is hard to classify. At it's best it's an above-average 84-86 mph curveball because of 1-to-7 shape, but it's tighter and has a sharper break than normal. When his adrenaline is flowing, it morphs into a high-80s pitch with slider tilt. His changeup flashes above-average with some late run but could use more consistency. His sinker and breaking ball eat up righthanders, but those same offerings end up down and in where lefties can feast, so his changeup must show run away from lefties. THE FUTURE: Soroka's pure stuff doesn't match Kyle Wright, Luiz Gohara or Ian Anderson, but his exceptional makeup, pitchability and athleticism make him a safe bet to be a mid-rotation starter.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Braves loved what they saw in Soroka when he pitched on the Canadian Junior National Team and they took the righthander with the 28th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Efficient due to his advanced feel for pitching, Soroka wound up working more innings (143) than any prep first-rounder in his first full season in at least a decade. He served as No. 1 starter in both rounds of the South Atlantic League playoffs for low Class A Rome. Scouting Report: Soroka's intelligence is readily apparent on the mound and helped him adjust after lefthanded hitters pounded him in his pro debut. He switched sides of the pitching rubber to locate better to his glove side and it worked. He limited lefthanded batters to a .648 OPS in 2016. Soroka mixes three above-average pitches with aplomb and generates lots of groundouts due to his plus control and ability to pound the lower half of the strike zone. His 90-92 mph fastball has excellent sinking action and touches 95 when he guns for a strikeout. His curveball has tight spin, his changeup has solid movement and he reads hitters' swings to attack their weakness. Strong with a solid presence on the bump, Soroka is a former hockey player and a solid all-around athlete who fields his position well.
  
  The Future: Soroka was one of the youngest players in his draft class and among the youngest pitchers in the South Atlantic League in 2016. While his next step will be high Class A, he projects as a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues.