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Atlanta Braves: Mike Soroka will progress – not regress – in 2020

By Seth Carter

MIAMI, FL - MAY 04: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates after leaving the game in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 4, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 04: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates after leaving the game in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 4, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Mike Soroka (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

We tell you why Atlanta Braves young ace, Mike Soroka can continue to dominate following his fantastic rookie campaign.

Prognosticators seem to believe there is no chance that Atlanta Braves’ Mike Soroka will replicate his dominant rookie season. Steamer Projections has him finishing 2020 with a 4.08 ERA.

Before we move on, let’s take a look at just how good Soroka was in his 2019 rookie campaign.

Soroka 2019 Stats

  • 13-4 // 2.68 ERA // 1.11 WHIP // 174.2 IP // 142 K
  • Soroka led the NL in HR/9
  • Seventh best FIP in the NL

Among Rookie Pitchers over the past 20 seasons (2000-2019) with a minimum of 170 innings pitched, here’s how Soroka stacked up.

  • #5 in fWAR with 4.0
  • #12 in HR/FB ratio with 0.72 – he was the first player on the list from the past five years.
  •  #2 in ERA (second only to the great Jose Fernandez)
  • #8 in FIP
  • #6 in walks per nine

Yes, Soroka had an amazing rookie season that was capped off with a dominant performance in the NLDS against the Cardinals. Most Braves fans were wishful that Soroka had been the pitcher in Game 5, and proved to be the true ace of the Braves, in our hearts.

Soroka and Adam Wainwright faced off in an epic duel. Soroka and Wainwright showed a propensity to tease hitters with an average velocity up in the zone. Hitters were off-balance and their timing was such that the high fastballs meant certain doom. The pair were at the top of their games, painting corners and absolutely dealing.

It was a glimpse into Wainwright’s past and a preview of things to come for Soroka.

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