The Washington Nationals have reached an agreement with right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka on a one-year contract, as announced by Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo on Thursday.’
Soroka, 27, posted a 4.74 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 79.2 innings in 25 games (nine starts) for the Chicago White Sox in 2024. He began the season in Chicago’s rotation before transitioning to the bullpen in mid-May. In his 16 relief appearances, Soroka recorded a .189 opponents’ batting average, an impressive 15.00 strikeouts per nine innings (60 SO/36.0 IP), and a 2.75 ERA (11 ER/36.0 IP). He concluded the 2024 season with a strong finish, striking out 13 of the 26 batters he faced, with two walks and a .083 opponents’ batting average (2-for-24) over his final three outings.
Soroka was a National League All-Star for the Atlanta Braves in 2019, achieving a 13-4 record with a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts and finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. Between 2018 and 2023 with the Braves, he compiled a 17-8 record with a 3.32 ERA in 44 games (43 starts).
Drafted by the Braves in the first round (No. 28 overall) of the 2015 MLB Draft from Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, Alberta, Soroka was traded to the Chicago White Sox in a five-player deal on November 16, 2023.
