Michael Soroka Heads to IL After Shoulder Injury in Cubs Debut
UPDATE: Chicago Cubs starter Michael Soroka has been placed on the injured list after suffering right shoulder discomfort during his debut game against the Cincinnati Reds on August 14, 2023. The team confirmed the news shortly after their 3-2 loss.
In a disappointing turn of events, Soroka, who just turned 28 on the same day, left the mound in the second inning after feeling a troubling sensation in his shoulder while throwing a pitch. “I went to go put a little extra on a fastball and it grabbed me a little bit,” Soroka stated. “And it didn’t go away.”
This injury is particularly concerning for the Cubs, who had acquired Soroka last week from the Washington Nationals in exchange for two prospects. The team had high hopes for the veteran pitcher as he stepped into the starting rotation, but the emergence of this injury raises questions about their strategy moving forward.
During his brief outing, Soroka managed to strike out two batters in the first inning but struggled in the second, surrendering a home run to Tyler Stephenson before exiting the game. “You’re always concerned when you have to come out of the game,” he expressed. “It’s never fun. I’m embarrassed, you come to this organization and hope to hit the ground running, and two innings later, we’re having to pull the plug.”
The Cubs are already in need of fresh arms as Soroka was their only significant addition to the starting rotation before the MLB’s trade deadline last week. Right-handers Jameson Taillon (calf) and Javier Assad (oblique) are on their way back, but the team remains stretched thin in their pitching staff. Ben Brown stepped in for Soroka on Monday but has struggled as a consistent starter.
“We didn’t have any signs of it,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell remarked regarding Soroka’s condition. “His velocity has gone backwards. He was optimistic in the first couple of days here that we could help him there, and things could get better. This is unfortunate.”
Prior to the trade, Soroka held a record of 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA for the Nationals. His recent performance was marked by a noticeable dip in velocity, prompting him to undergo an MRI, which returned clean results. “Everyone knew the velocity hadn’t been there the last month,” Soroka noted, indicating his ongoing struggle to regain form.
As the Cubs navigate this unexpected setback, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team adapts in the coming days. With Soroka’s future uncertain, the pressure mounts for the Cubs to secure their starting rotation before the postseason chase intensifies.
