Rivalry Renewed: Former Braves’ Fans Favorite Now A Threat: All-Star Signs with NL East Rival
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Michael Soroka (better known in Atlanta as Mike) is returning to the National League East. According to Ken Rosenthal, he signed with the Washington Nationals.
The Nationals plan to use Soroka as a starter, according to MLB.com, which is what he’s done for most of his career.
The former Braves righty spent the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox after being traded there last offseason. The Braves acquired reliever Aaron Bummer in exchange for Soroka, left-hander Jared Shuster, shortstop Braden Shewmake, infielder Nicky Lopez and right-hander Riley Gowens.
It’s quite an unfortunate year to have arrived on the southside of Chicago, who lost 121 games – beating out the 1962 Mets for the most losses in the modern era (since 1901).
In 25 appearances, nine of them starts, Soroka had a 4.74 ERA in 79 2/3 innings pitched. He also racked up 84 strikeouts and a 1.38 WHIP.
He spent his entire career with the Braves up until he was traded. He was a first-round pick by the Braves in the 2015 MLB Draft. The Braves called him up in 2018 and he made five starts in the middle of the season. In those starts, he had a 3.51 ERA.
