The Braves are the first team in MLB history to have two sub-22 year olds make the All-Star team.
Mike Soroka was named a National League All-Star on Sunday evening, making him the youngest pitcher in franchise history to achieve the honor. The 21-year-old starter joins Ronald Acuna, 21, and Freddie Freeman as the Braves' representatives at next month's event in Cleveland. Manager Brian Snitker will be part of the coaching staff.
âItâs indescribable,â Soroka said. âItâs something that wasnât on my mind for so long, really. The beginning of the season was just about being back in the big leagues, being able to prove myself to the team and be out there every fifth day getting back after it. I strung a few (good starts) together at the beginning of the year, and thereâs rumblings, all that stuff. You have to put that out of your mind because itâs so far away.
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âSo to get that call when weâre in there â Snit gave us the news in the clubhouse â to share it with all these guys whoâve been there with me and ultimately the reason Iâm there; I wouldnât be there without their plays behind me. ⌠Iâve learned from all of them and wouldnât be here without them.â
In his first full season, Soroka has already realized much of the potential that made him the franchiseâs No. 1 pitching prospect. A command savant, Soroka is second in MLB with a 2.13 ERA and fifth in WHIP (0.980).
The Canadian righty outpitched defending Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom Friday, his most recent start. Soroka has a 67:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 84-2/3 innings. He's made 14 starts despite missing spring training and a portion of April due to a shoulder issue.
âHe gets it,â pitching coach Rick Kranitz said. âHe understands himself very, very well. Heâs very calm, his demeanor. Nothing seems to rattle him when heâs out there. Heâll reach back and make a pitch. A lot of times guys have to grow into that or they go into that overthrowing. Thatâs not him. He has a good sense, good feel for whatâs going on out there. He sees the game a little differently than some.â
The Braves held a team meeting at 5 p.m. Sunday to inform Soroka heâd be an All-Star. He got an ovation from his teammates. Snitker described Soroka as âstunned.â
âThe maturity of the kid, what heâs done,â Snitker said. âItâs a great honor for our organization, for him, for what heâs accomplished. ⌠He got a round of applause from his teammates. They were all happy for him and he had some great things to say to them. Itâs one of the coolest days of my job, when you get to give them the All-Star invites.â
Soroka has downplayed All-Star talk for much of the year, both with media and in his own mind. Heâs commonly praised for his maturity and level-headed outlook. That mindset helped him temper any hopes to make the midsummer classic.
The consistency heâs provided has been especially rewarding. Soroka debuted last season, making only five starts before right shoulder inflammation ended his season. He watched the Braves win 90 games and return to the postseason without his efforts.
Soroka worked extensively through the offseason so heâd be ready to compete for a rotation spot in spring training. But he overextended himself in workouts, hurting his shoulder again and spoiling his bid to open the season with the big-league club.
Yet he swiftly returned, almost immediately cementing himself as the Bravesâ best starter. The best starter on the team with the NLâs second-best record on Sunday â as a 21-year-old.
âAge has always been a question coming up, the youngest to do something, Ronnie, (Ozzie) Albies, they fall into that category,â Soroka said. âI think a lot of watching them, understanding that it can be done. Donât put limitations on things because youâre a little younger. And to not use it as an excuse either. Itâs easy to go out there and say âOh, youâre only 20 years old and youâre in the big leagues, and failure is OK.â
âItâs going to happen. But to move on, thatâs where I think weâve done a good job of learning from each other. Itâs pretty cool, but what means the most to me is being able to go out and compete with the guys.â
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