Soroka gearing up for second big league camp with Braves

RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) is hoping the crack the Atlanta Braves starting rotation in 2019.

By Jonathan Hodgson

Canadian Baseball Network

Mike Soroka is entering spring training a year older, a year wiser, and with a renewed conviction to strive for greatness.

Soroka won’t turn 22 until August, and is already gearing up for his second major league spring training with the Atlanta Braves next month. The Atlanta Braves first-round pick, 28th overall in 2015, Soroka spent three-plus seasons pitching his way up the minor league ranks, and reaching the major leagues in May of last season.

The Calgary native made the start for the Braves in his debut on May 1, 2018 in New York against the Mets. Though he says the day was a whirlwind of emotions, once he toed the rubber, it was business as usual as he pitched a strong six innings allowing just one run on a solo home run, scattering six hits with five strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

He picked up his first major league victory that night by outduelling Mets ace Noah Syndergaard.

“It was made official two days before I went up, and my first call went to my Dad,” Soroka remembered. “Even though you try to prepare for it, mentally you think about it coming up through the minors, and even before that, but those aren’t really emotions that you can be ready for when the moment actually hits.”

Soroka says the day was made extra special because of approximately 15 family and friends who were able to make it to Flushing, New York for the game.

“(There was) anyone from close family to family friends, and even supporters of baseball in Calgary at the game,” Soroka said. “I thought it was pretty special to see the amount of people who came all the way to New York because it’s definitely not the easiest place to get to at the last minute, especially from Calgary.”

Among them were Jim Lawson and former major league pitcher Chris Reitsma, two of Soroka’s youth baseball coaches from his time pitching with Pro Baseball Force (PBF) in Calgary, graduating from the program in 2014.

“That’s where I grew up,” Soroka remembered. “Jim gave me and many others the chance to come in to our own and have fun with the game, and I think that’s where it clicked for me. (Having fun is) why you fall in love with the game and that’s why you never want to quit.”

Soroka says that he never loses sight of the joy of playing the game.

“I’ve never taken an approach to the diamond like it was a day of work. I’ve always come to the diamond ready to have fun and because of that I’ve been able to work hard and it doesn’t really feel like it,” Soroka said, adding, “being under coaches (at PBF) who understood that and were able to pass that on was paramount for my success. Without that mindset I probably would not have kept up with it to the extent that I did and I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today.”

Soroka returned from a stint on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain in mid-May and made two starts in June, but his fifth major league start of the season in Toronto on June 19 would end up being his last of 2018, being placed back on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

The 6-foot-5’ right-hander found himself in an unfamiliar position, being injured for the first time in his career and away from the game after getting a glimpse of the major leagues.

“It’s unbelievable to think about how fast those five starts went. It lasted about a month but it felt a lot shorter than that, so you get a new appreciation for making every moment count,” Soroka said. “It was definitely frustrating (having his season ended due to injury) mainly for the reason that it’s the first time I’ve ever been hurt, and it’s always on your mind how it could have happened and ‘why you?’ and all these kinds of questions that really can’t be answered right away.”

Having trusted people around him for support and council is very important to Soroka and was crucial through the rehab process.

“I’ve had a chance to talk to a lot of guys who’ve been hurt and out longer than I was, and realized that a lot of the thoughts and emotions that you might have are completely normal and its about being able to move on and put the importance of today first and put the questions about the future off until they can be answered,” he said.

One of those people who has had Soroka’s ear is Larry Pearson, a long-time supporter of sport in Canada, including Baseball Canada, so it was extra meaningful when Soroka recently accepted the Alumni Award named for Pearson at the 2019 Baseball Canada National Teams Awards Banquet on January 12 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

“It’s incredible to be there first and foremost with those guys who have been along side you with the Junior National Team and the guys you grew up watching on the senior team, and to accept Larry’s award is special,” Soroka said. “I met Larry on my first trip with the Junior National Team and learned pretty quickly how much he cares about the developmental program and baseball in Canada. He does so much for the program and truly loves to see people take opportunities and strive to succeed I can’t thank him enough for what he does and hopefully I’ll be able to set an example for the future like he does.”

Another member of the Baseball Canada family that Soroka has high praise for is Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada’s Director of National Teams, whom he pitched for as a member of Canada’s Junior National Team in 2013-15. Just before the new year, both Soroka and Hamilton were named once again to the Canadian Baseball Network’s annual list of the most influential Canadian’s in baseball, which is compiled by Canadian Baseball Network founder and 2012 J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner Bob Elliott.

“It’s incredible,” Soroka said. “It’s something that you don’t necessarily strive for in the sense that you’re trying to beat out other Canadians for recognition, but it comes down to representing the best we can. To see what Greg Hamilton does for Baseball Canada every year inspires a lot of people to give back, and not just for baseball. I think he inspires a lot of us to do things in our communities as well, whether it’s helping out at baseball camps or volunteering with KidSport.”

“I think that growing up under somebody like Greg sets the gold standard for what representing Canada should be like and we’re pretty lucky to have a guy like him,” Soroka concluded.

Having returned stateside to Kissimmee, Fla., to prepare for spring training, Soroka draws attention with the amount of red and white he sports, and that is not going to change.

“I get a lot of comments from people saying, ‘Mike, we know you’re from Canada, you don’t have to wear that much Canada gear,’ and the answer is always, ‘yes I do,’ because I’m always proud to represent a place that I’ll always call home.”

With Braves spring training set to officially open next month, Soroka is ready to battle for a place in the Braves rotation.

“I’m coming into camp this year battling for a job, which will be something new,” Soroka said. “This will be my second big league camp but my first time actually going in with expectations to be out there and healthy first and foremost, and then to earn a starting job (in the majors). I’m lucky to be in a situation with such good competition because at the end of the day, it brings out the best in all of us.”

Soroka finishes by saying:

“I have a better understanding of what needs to be part of my process every single day, which eventually is hopefully going to help the team get to the World Series and win a bunch of rings,” Soroka said. “That’s the ultimate goal, but being able to simplify things and have less stress about the uncontrollable is where I’ve made vast improvement this past year.”