Cubs’ Michael Soroka Injured in Debut, Heads to Injured List

In a disappointing turn of events, new Chicago Cubs pitcher Michael Soroka will be placed on the injured list following right shoulder discomfort sustained during his debut game with the team. The announcement came after the Cubs’ narrow 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, a game that marked Soroka’s first appearance since being acquired from the Washington Nationals.

During the second inning, Soroka, who turned 28 years old on the day of the game, reported feeling a troubling sensation in his shoulder after attempting to add extra velocity to a fastball. He did not return for the third inning. “I went to go put a little extra on a fastball and it grabbed me a little bit,” Soroka explained. “And it didn’t go away.”

Injury Compounds Cubs’ Challenges

Soroka joined the Cubs last week in exchange for two prospects: Ronny Cruz and Christian Franklin. Despite a noticeable dip in his pitching velocity in recent outings, Soroka had expressed optimism prior to his first start with the Cubs, stating that he felt no pain. “There was no reason to believe there was anything wrong,” he said.

The six-year veteran has been grappling with his velocity issues, prompting him to undergo an MRI before his last start with the Nationals. Soroka reported that the MRI results were clear, allowing him to focus on improving his mechanics. “Everyone knew the velocity hadn’t been there the last month,” he acknowledged. “I still had life on everything. The breaking ball was still playing like it did in the first inning.”

In his brief outing, Soroka struck out two batters in the first inning, showcasing a sharp slurve that overwhelmed TJ Friedl and Austin Hays. However, his performance faltered in the second inning when he allowed a home run to Tyler Stephenson before exiting the game.

Expressing disappointment, Soroka stated, “You’re always concerned when you have to come out of the game. 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.”

Team’s Immediate Needs

The Cubs face a pressing need for reliable pitchers as Soroka was their sole addition to the starting rotation prior to the MLB trade deadline. Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad are on the mend from injuries, leaving the team in a precarious position. Ben Brown stepped in for Soroka during the game but has struggled in the role of a regular starter.

Manager Craig Counsell expressed concern over Soroka’s sudden decline in performance. “We didn’t have any signs of it,” he noted. “His velocity has gone backwards. He’s trying to figure out how to fix that. He was optimistic in the first couple of days here that we could help him there and that things could get better. This is unfortunate.”

Before being traded, Soroka had a record of 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA for the Nationals. The Cubs will be monitoring his recovery closely as they navigate the challenges of the current season.