Spring roommates Soroka, Anderson to compete for rotation job

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it usually in your inbox.

In addition to competing for a spot within the rotation, Mike Soroka and Ian Anderson will spend the following couple of months vying for fridge area. 

One of the Braves’ most attention-grabbing Spring Training battles this yr pits Soroka towards Anderson for the rotation’s fifth spot, a contest between two proficient younger right-handers who’ve been detoured through the early portion of their respective careers.

They are additionally nice pals who will as soon as once more reside collectively throughout Spring Training, in the home Anderson just lately bought close to the Braves’ complicated in North Port, Fla.

“[Ian is] definitely my best friend on the team,” Soroka mentioned. “We’ve been together for a long time. It’s ironic that we had never played together before being at Triple-A last year. I think we’re both fairly mature and understanding that we’re both going to do what we need to do. We both wish the best for each other.”

A couple of years in the past, it will have appeared ridiculous to assume these two must battle for a rotation spot. But that was earlier than Soroka twice tore his proper Achilles tendon and earlier than Anderson struggled final yr. Their paths merged as they spent the ultimate weeks of the 2022 season collectively at Triple-A. Now they want to journey again to the large leagues.

Soroka and Anderson are each smart sufficient to know they aren’t essentially simply vying for the fifth spot. Yes, there’s at the moment only one opening, however something may occur over the following few weeks and months. Both might be going to camp to show they will once more be efficient starters.

Even if simply considered one of them is required within the rotation to start the season, each will make begins this yr so long as they continue to be wholesome.

Soroka is dealing with a major problem after tearing his Achilles in August 2020 and once more in June 2021. Time will inform whether or not he can get again to the place he was throughout his 2019 rookie season, when he ranked third within the NL with a 2.68 ERA. He has at all times proven nice willpower and dedication, traits which have carried him by way of inactivity over the previous two years.

But now he should show he can bodily deal with the pains and challenges of performing on the highest stage.

“I feel great,” Soroka mentioned. “I’m pretty much where I would be any normal year.”