{"id":678595,"date":"2026-04-18T19:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T19:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/678595\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T19:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T19:57:32","slug":"the-soroka-risk-is-paying-off-better-than-d-backs-could-have-imagined","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/678595\/","title":{"rendered":"The Soroka Risk is Paying Off Better Than D-backs Could Have Imagined"},"content":{"rendered":"

It didn’t feel like it had been nearly seven years since Michael Soroka<\/a> had completed a seven-inning start in the majors. But it looked every bit of a dominant outing.<\/p>\n

The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander is pitching as well as he has in his career, perhaps since that very 2019 All-Star campaign with the Atlanta Braves. After throwing seven innings of two-run baseball on Friday night, and earning his fourth straight win, Soroka’s 2026 ERA sits at 2.78. <\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks took a flier on Soroka this offseason<\/a>, signing him to a one-year, $7.5 million deal. With a recent history of injuries and underperformance, the signing was a rotation-filling move that carried a bit of a risk \u2014 but a chance at a high reward. <\/p>\n

So far, the reward has been massive. But Soroka knew it would be. <\/p>\n

“Everybody goes through some sort of injuries at some point in their career, or struggles with performance,” Soroka said. <\/p>\n

“I think, for myself, it has always been there. I’ve always been able to kind of show that ability and give teams a reason to believe in me, and I’m very thankful that I’m with an org that does as much as anybody. <\/p>\n

“It’s easy to go out there and want to prove them right. I’ve always seen it in myself, and it means a lot when an org sees that in me, too.”<\/p>\n

Diamondbacks’ Michael Soroka looks like new pitcher\"Apr<\/p>\n

Apr 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Michael Soroka (34) stands on the mound with runners on base against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Soroka’s results are familiar for those who witnessed his All-Star season seven years prior. But he’s not the same arm he was then. Soroka said his delivery has changed noticeably over the years.<\/p>\n

“I think anybody, it doesn’t matter who you are, if you watch baseball or not, I think you can look at both deliveries and see the changes. It was difficult. I had to start in [2022], I was kind of coming back from injuries,” he said. <\/p>\n

“I think we’re in a really good place now, and we’re able to kind of get back to pitching as it comes into game management, lineup management, and ultimately getting the win.”<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks had been interested in Soroka for some time. This offseason was not their first attempt to acquire the right-hander. Manager Torey Lovullo is not surprised the results have been positive.<\/p>\n

“I remember his first year with the Braves, he got on a really nice run. So I know that he’s capable of doing that, has real good stuff,” Lovullo said. <\/p>\n

“He says that he’s grown and learned as a pitcher, so I’m not surprised by it. … He’s taking care of himself, and he’s out there to compete at a high level, emotionally and physically, and now he’s just, he’s executing.”<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks have yet to lose one of Soroka’s starts<\/a>. Pitcher wins may not be the statistic it used to be, but there’s something to be said for the right-hander’s ability to put his team in a position to win a game. <\/p>\n

Not to mention, he’s got an Arizona lineup that had given him fits in the past now working for him, instead of against him.<\/p>\n

“Win-loss isn’t the whole picture,” Soroka said. “But it’s obviously incredible to be able to have that and to be able to be with a team that gives the run support, they play the defense, so it’s easy for me to go out there and just let it rip.”<\/p>\n

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