Braves pitcher Michael Soroka out for the year but apparently won’t need surger…

Athens, GA (AP) — Michael Soroka, a former All-Star, is out for the season, but he did get some good news: it doesn’t seem like surgery is necessary for his most recent injury.

Another blow to Soroka’s once-promising career, which was derailed by two serious leg injuries, came on Wednesday when the Braves placed him on the 15-day injured list.

Following a series of diagnostic procedures, the Braves medical staff concluded that Soroka’s numb fingers were caused by inflammation in his forearm. Since there were no tears, the most likely course of treatment was rest and rehabilitation.

“He has finished the year. Following an 11-6 loss to the Cardinals, manager Brian Snitker stated, “It’s not something he’s going to have time to come back from.” “He will be removed and

After rupturing his right Achilles tendon twice this season, Soroka made a comeback, and Snitker at first thought this was going to be yet another terrible blow.

Twenty-four hours later, the management sounded more hopeful.

Snitker stated, “It’s one of those things that just happens.” “I believe he did a really decent job going this far after returning. I give him credit for his perseverance, work ethic, and all of the things he’s done to get this far—into September.

After being roughed up in Tuesday night’s 10-6 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals, reliever Collin McHugh joined Soroka on the 15-day IL with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Right-handers Darius Vines and Ben Heller were called up by the Braves from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Despite starting the first game of the series against the Cardinals, Soroka, who has spent the majority of the season pitching at Gwinnett, only lasted three innings. He gave up four hits, two home runs, and five runs.

In his first full season with the Braves in 2019, Soroka went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and was named an All-Star. He placed sixth in the league’s Cy Young Award voting and second in the NL Rookie of the Year vote.

Subsequently, during a routine fielding play in Soroka’s third start of the pandemic-affected 2020 season, the pitcher tore his right Achilles tendon.

Following nine exhausting months of rehabilitation and a follow-up treatment to address problems, Soroka blew out.

He did not pitch at all in the previous two years, with the exception of a single spring training outing right before the 2021 season began.

Soroka began the season in the minors as the Braves worked to make sure he was fully healed and had regained the form he displayed prior to the Achilles injury, but he eventually made his way back to the mound this season.

Soroka had some encouraging performances at Gwinnett, going 4-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, but he never looked like the explosive young pitcher who was one of baseball’s best.

He was called up three times by the MLB-leading Braves to fill in as a spot starter in their injury-plagued lineup. Soroka pitched 32 1/3 innings, going 2-2 with a 6.40 ERA while giving up 36 hits and 12 walks.

However, McHugh struggled, giving up 70 hits and 22 walks in his 4.30 ERA. A lot of talk had him on the Braves’ postseason team, especially if injured relievers Nick Anderson or Jesse Chavez were able to make a comeback.

Taking over for Soroka in the Tuesday loss, McHugh surrendered four runs in three innings.