Michael Soroka

Michael John Graydon Soroka Bio

Michael John Graydon Soroka is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on August 4, 1997, in Calgary, Alberta, Soroka has built a career marked by early promise, significant adversity, and notable resilience. He made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2018 and quickly established himself as one of baseball’s most promising young arms. Soroka earned MLB All-Star honors in 2019 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting that season. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to compete at the highest level while overcoming serious injuries that have tested his determination and work ethic.

Early Life and Background

Soroka grew up in Calgary as the son of Gary Soroka, a former university and junior hockey player, and Sally Soroka. He has two half-sisters. Soroka attended Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary where he excelled as a student-athlete. During his youth, he served as a goalie in hockey before ultimately choosing to focus on baseball. Soroka pitched for the junior national team and was coached by Chris Reitsma, a fellow Canadian baseball pitcher who became his mentor. Reitsma noted Soroka’s physical similarities to himself, recognizing the young pitcher’s potential early on.

By his senior year of high school, Soroka had committed to play college baseball at the University of California, Berkeley on scholarship. Prior to the 2015 MLB Draft, Baseball America ranked him 88th among prospects nationwide. Soroka’s trajectory shifted when he was selected in the draft, leading him to pursue professional baseball rather than his college commitment.

Path to Professional Baseball

The Atlanta Braves selected Soroka with the 28th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. He began his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Braves, where he posted an impressive 1.80 earned run average in ten innings pitched. The Braves then assigned him to the Danville Braves, where he finished the season with a 0-2 record and 3.75 ERA in six starts. This strong finish demonstrated his adaptability to professional competition.

Soroka spent the 2016 season with the Rome Braves, compiling a 9-9 record with a 3.02 ERA. He continued his development in 2017 with the Mississippi Braves, posting an 11-8 record and a 2.75 ERA across 153 and two-thirds innings. As one of the youngest players in Double-A that season, Soroka earned selection to the All-Star Futures Game in July, showcasing his talent among the sport’s top prospects. His steady progression through the minor leagues set the stage for his eventual promotion to the major leagues.

Michael John Graydon Soroka Career

Atlanta Braves Breakthrough (2018–2023)

Soroka began the 2018 season with the Gwinnett Stripers of Triple-A, recording a 1.99 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over four starts. The Braves promoted him to the major leagues on May 1, 2018. He made his MLB debut that night against the New York Mets, pitching six innings while yielding one run and recording five strikeouts. However, Soroka began experiencing right shoulder inflammation after May 21, which led to multiple stints on the disabled list throughout the season. He missed the remainder of the year after being placed on the 60-day disabled list in late August. Overall, Soroka appeared in five starts for the Braves, registering a 2-1 record, 3.51 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in 25 and two-thirds innings.

The 2019 season proved to be Soroka’s breakthrough year. Despite experiencing right trapezius strain during spring training, he made his season debut on April 18 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and became the youngest pitcher in the National League. Soroka was named to the All-Star Game, becoming the youngest Atlanta Braves pitcher ever selected to the mid-summer classic. That year, the Braves became the first team to send two players younger than 22 to the All-Star Game, as Soroka joined Ronald Acuña Jr. in receiving the honor. Soroka finished the regular season with 29 starts, a 13-4 record, 2.68 ERA, and 142 strikeouts across 174 and two-thirds innings. He placed second in National League Rookie of the Year voting to Pete Alonso of the New York Mets and sixth in NL Cy Young Award voting.

Soroka opened the shortened 2020 season as the Braves’ starting pitcher on July 24, pitching six scoreless innings against the Mets. At 22 years and 354 days old, he became the youngest Opening Day starting pitcher in the Braves’ modern history. Unfortunately, his season ended abruptly on August 3 when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a game against the Mets, requiring assistance to leave the field. He registered a 0-1 record with a 3.95 ERA in three starts that season.

The injury setbacks continued for Soroka in 2021. He began the season on the 60-day injured list while continuing rehabilitation from Achilles surgery. During recovery, he suffered a complete re-tear of his Achilles on June 24, which effectively ended his campaign. The Braves went on to win the 2021 World Series, their first championship since 1995, though Soroka was unable to contribute during the postseason. He agreed to a $2.8 million contract for 2022 and later signed another one-year deal for 2023 worth the same amount.

Soroka opened the 2023 season optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett before being recalled on May 29, marking 1,030 days since his previous MLB start. On June 30, he earned his first win since September 19, 2019, allowing five hits with seven strikeouts across six innings in a victory over the Miami Marlins. His return demonstrated his resilience following multiple injury comebacks. However, Soroka was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right forearm inflammation on September 6, ending his season.

Chicago White Sox (2024)

On November 16, 2023, the Braves traded Soroka to the Chicago White Sox as part of a multi-player package that included Jared Shuster, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake, and Riley Gowens in exchange for Aaron Bummer. Soroka began the 2024 season in the White Sox starting rotation. On May 14, 2024, the team transitioned him to a bullpen role. Across 25 total appearances, Soroka compiled a 0-10 record with a 4.74 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 79 and two-thirds innings. His record of 0-10 marked the fourth-worst winless season in the modern era (since 1900) and the most losses by a pitcher without a single victory since Terry Felton of the 1982 Minnesota Twins went 0-13.

Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs (2025)

On December 19, 2024, Soroka signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Washington Nationals. He made 16 starts for Washington in 2025, compiling a 3-8 record and 4.87 ERA with 87 strikeouts across 81 and one-third innings. On July 30, 2025, the Nationals traded Soroka to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz. He made six appearances for Chicago, recording a 1.08 ERA with eight strikeouts across eight and one-third innings pitched, demonstrating improved performance in his brief stint with the Cubs.

Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2026–Present)

On December 12, 2025, Soroka signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks later agreed to a contract extension through 2027 worth $7.5 million annually. On March 30, 2026, in his first start with the Diamondbacks, Soroka pitched the 120th immaculate inning in MLB history against the Detroit Tigers, a remarkable achievement that highlighted his stuff and precision on the mound. This milestone marked a significant moment in his career redemption arc.

Driving Style and Pitching Approach

Soroka has demonstrated the ability to pitch effectively at the major league level through a combination of pitchability and stuff. His success in 2019 came largely from his ability to command multiple pitches and work efficiently through lineups. The Braves organization consistently praised his maturity and baseball intelligence beyond his years, which allowed him to succeed in the minors ahead of schedule. His return from multiple injuries has showcased his determination and work ethic in rebuilding his stuff and command.

Notable Events and Milestones

Throughout his career, Soroka has accumulated several significant achievements and milestones. His 2019 All-Star selection at age 21 made him the youngest Braves pitcher to earn that honor. The 2020 Opening Day start at age 22 years and 354 days established him as the youngest in franchise history for that role in the modern era. His return from multiple Achilles surgeries represented a remarkable comeback journey that tested his physical and mental resilience. The immaculate inning in March 2026 with the Diamondbacks provided a signature moment that demonstrated his continued ability to compete at the highest level.

Michael John Graydon Soroka Career Statistics

Through the 2026 season, Soroka has accumulated 28 career wins against 29 losses across his MLB tenure with multiple teams. He has recorded 458 career strikeouts with a career earned run average of 3.73. His best season came in 2019 when he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and earned his only All-Star selection.

Atlanta Braves Highlights

Soroka’s most productive stretch came during his time with the Atlanta Braves from 2018 to 2023. He appeared in 117 games (76 starts) with Atlanta, compiling a 24-19 record with a 3.35 ERA. His 2019 season remains his career best, as he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 142 strikeouts while earning All-Star honors and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. The 2020 season showed promise before his season-ending Achilles injury. His return in 2023 provided emotional moments as he picked up his first win in nearly four years.

Other Career Performances

After leaving Atlanta, Soroka faced challenges with the Chicago White Sox in 2024, going 0-10 in 25 appearances. He showed signs of recovery with Washington in 2025, posting a 3-8 record in 16 starts before being traded to Chicago. His brief stint with the Cubs demonstrated improved results with a 1.08 ERA across six appearances. The move to Arizona in 2026 represented a fresh start, and he immediately made an impact with his immaculate inning performance against Detroit.

Michael John Graydon Soroka Family

Family Background

Soroka was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to Gary and Sally Soroka. His father Gary was a former university and junior hockey player who helped introduce his son to athletics. His mother Sally passed away from melanoma in 2010 when Soroka was 12 years old. He grew up with two half-sisters. The loss of his mother at a young age shaped Soroka’s character and approach to overcoming adversity throughout his baseball career.

Personal Life

Soroka attended Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary before his professional baseball career took off. Prior to being drafted, he had committed to playing college baseball at the University of California, Berkeley on scholarship. Originally known as “Mike Soroka,” he expressed his preference to go by “Michael” starting in 2023. Soroka maintains a presence on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account. His journey through multiple injuries and team transitions has been well documented, and he has spoken openly about the challenges of professional baseball and recovery.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented a year of transition and adjustment for Soroka. He began the year with the Washington Nationals after signing a one-year, $9 million contract in December 2024. His 16 starts with Washington resulted in a 3-8 record with a 4.87 ERA and 87 strikeouts across 81 and one-third innings. While the win-loss record did not reflect his best efforts, Soroka showed flashes of the pitcher who had succeeded in Atlanta earlier in his career. The Nationals’ mid-season trade to the Chicago Cubs on July 30 provided Soroka with a change of scenery. In six appearances with the Cubs, he recorded a 1.08 ERA with eight strikeouts in eight and one-third innings, suggesting improved mechanics and renewed confidence. His performance down the stretch with Chicago caught the attention of other teams, leading to his signing with Arizona in December 2025.