Atlanta Braves beat writer Dave O’Brien joined Dukes & Bell and talked about the news that Mike Soroka will start for the Gwinnett Stripers on Sunday after making his first appearance in about two years Tuesday in low A ball for the Rome Braves.
When asked about Mike Soroka’s timeline.
“Yea all along that was the plan to have him pitching in some games, at least a couple of games at the end of the year for his own piece of mind to feel good going into the offseason and for the Braves to know where he is,” O’Brien said. “I fully expect them to tender him a contract but it’s so much easier having him pitch in games, knowing that he’s going to be a factor next spring as far as competing for a roster spot.”
O’brien talked about how impressive Soroka was in his appearance Tuesday in Rome.
“He’s surpassed all my expectations, I know it’s just A ball hitters but that was impressive. He was throwing some nasty sinkers, velocity was basically normal, so that was really impressive. If that’s a sign of things to come for him to do that in his first time out in about two years basically other than one spring training game where he pitched in relief that had to be encouraging for everyone.”