After just two innings into his debut with the Chicago Cubs, pitcher Michael Soroka has been placed on the injured list due to discomfort in his right shoulder. The right-handed hurler, originally from Calgary, exited Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds after the second inning, marking his first appearance with the Cubs following his recent acquisition from the Washington Nationals.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell mentioned that Soroka expressed feeling uneasy after throwing a pitch in the second inning. Despite completing the inning, Soroka reported discomfort in his shoulder upon returning to the dugout, leading to his placement on the injured list.
During his brief outing, Soroka surrendered one run and one hit, a solo home run by Tyler Stephenson. He also recorded three strikeouts and issued one walk before being substituted by Ben Brown in the third inning.
Soroka was traded from the Nationals in exchange for two minor league players to bolster the Cubs’ pitching rotation, which has been impacted by the absence of left-handed ace Justin Steele for the remainder of the season and Canadian pitcher Jameson Taillon’s recovery from a right calf strain.
Counsell indicated uncertainty regarding the severity of Soroka’s injury, mentioning that the pitcher will undergo further evaluation and medical tests to determine the next steps.
Soroka, who was making his 17th start of the season, entered the game with a 3-8 record and a 4.87 earned-run average. Notably, he had a standout rookie season with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, where he posted a 13-4 record and a 2.68 ERA before being sidelined by two right Achilles tendon injuries, causing him to miss the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
In 2024, Soroka struggled with a 0-10 record and a 4.74 ERA while playing for the crosstown White Sox as they endured a challenging season, setting a modern-era record for losses with 121.
Counsell mentioned that Soroka’s pitching velocity has regressed slightly, and the team was optimistic about helping him address this issue and improve his performance during his initial days with the Cubs.