Braves SP Mike Soroka could return in 2021

It appears Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker may have spoken prematurely when he said on MLB Network that right-hander Mike Soroka will miss the entire 2021 season due to the setback he encountered earlier this month while recovering from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered last August. 

According to Mark Bowman of the MLB website, Soroka’s status for the remainder of the campaign won't be determined "until his right Achilles tendon is re-evaluated in two weeks." 

Soroka tore the tendon playing against the New York Mets on Aug. 3 and dealt with shoulder inflammation in April while attempting to work his way back to the active roster. He then reported discomfort in his Achilles while walking and underwent an MRI that led the Braves to determine he required exploratory surgery, a procedure Bowman reports happened May 17. 

"He's down for the year," Snitker said earlier on Friday. "Hopefully we'll get him back next year."

Soroka, who turns 24 years old in August, was voted 2019 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up after he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He went down to the initial injury last summer in only his third start of the pandemic-shortened season.