CBN POW Week III: Mike Soroka
Former Calgary PBF Redbirds' RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) pitched a complete-game, seven-inning shutout for the Gwinett Stripers
By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
There are all sorts of changes for the Gwinett Stripers roster.
OF Ronald Acuna was promoted this week to the Atlanta Braves and former Toronto Blue Jays slugging legend Jose Bautista is expected to be close behind.
Meanwhile, back on the mound, RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) pitched a complete-game, 1-0 win over the Rochester Red Wings in the first game of the doubleheader before 4,230 fans at Frontier Field in Rochester.
For his effort, Soroka was awarded the Canadian Baseball Network minor league Player of the Week honours for Week III.
Soroka, Atlanta’s No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, held Rochester to three hits and three walks. At 20, he is 6 1/2 years younger than the average age of players in the triple-A International League this season. He is rated No. 31 in Jim Callis’ top 100 on MLB Pipeline. As they used to say in Edmonton “And he’s only 20!”
Soroka fanned four in his 91-pitch (57-strikes) performance. For Soroka, who pitched for the Calgary PBF Redbirds and the Canadian Junior National Team, before he was drafted 28th over-all in North America.
It was Soroka’s first career shutout and his second career complete game. The first was pitching for the Class-A Rome Braves facing the Kannapolis Intimidators June 28, 2016.
Acuna worked a lead-off walk in the fourth, stole second and third scoring when Tyler Flowers grounded to short.
Soroka recorded 13 ground ball outs, three fly ball out, a line drive out ... plus four strike outs. He made the most of the lead. He allowed only one walk and zero hits over the final three innings, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters.
He was pitching with former Jay Ezequiel Carrera in centre and Bautista at third.
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player / Class / Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
Dalton Pompey - AAA Buffalo 21 5 9 1 3 .429
Vladimir Guerrero - AA New Hampshire 23 4 8 - 7 .348
Jim Adduci - AAA Toledo 25 5 8 2 5 .320
Josh Naylor - AA San Antonio 25 3 8 1 2 .320
Eric Wood - AAA Indianapolis 20 2 6 - - .300
Daniel Pinero - A Lakeland 21 2 6 - 1 .286
Demi Orimoloye - A Wisconsin 21 1 6 - - .286
Jamie Romak - KBO SK Wyverns 16 5 5 2 5 .313
(Totals for Pompey include one game with class-A Dunedin)
(Minimum 10 At-bats required)
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
MIKE SOROKA RHP - AAA GWINNETT STRIPERS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 7.0 3 - - 3 4 1-0 - 0.86 0.00
Mike Soroka continues to demonstrate that despite being only 20 years of age, he is quite capable of excelling at the affiliated Triple A level, and this week he made another terrific start for Gwinnett. On April 23rd in a 1-0 shutout win over Rochester Red Wings, he pitched seven scoreless innings gave up only three base hits, while striking out four, to earn his second Win of the year. His record with the Stripers now stands at 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA.
ZACH POP RHP - A GREAT LAKES LOONS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 3.2 - - - - 8 - - 0.00 0.00
Zach Pop was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft by Los Angeles Dodgers, and the 21 year old native of Brampton is currently working out of the bullpen with Great Lakes Loons in the Single A Midwest League. This week he made two outstanding relief appearances, first on April 20th in a 5-4 loss to West Michigan White Caps when he threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, surrendered zero hits while striking out six batters, but was not involved in the decision. On April 23rd in a 3-1 loss to Ft. Wayne TinCaps, he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up zero hits while striking out two Ft. Wayne hitters but again, was not involved in the decision. His record with Great Lakes is now 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA.
JORDAN ROMANO RHP - AA NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 12.2 6 4 4 7 8 2-0 - 1.07 2.95
Off to a great start with Double A New Hampshire, Jordan Romano made two excellent starts this week. On April 19th in a 5-2 victory over Binghamton Rumble Ponies he threw seven innings, gave up only two base hits and one earned run while striking out four to earn the Win. On April 24th in a 9-4 win over the Ponies he pitched 5 2/3, surrendered four base hits and three earned runs while striking out four Binghamton batters to pick up his second win of the week. His Eastern League record with the Fisher Cats now stands at 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA.
CURTIS TAYLOR RHP - A CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
3 3.2 6 3 3 2 5 1-0 1 2.50 8.44
Making an adjustment to a new organization since being acquired in trade by Tampa Bay Rays from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the off season, Curtis Taylor has shown signs of handling the change quite well. This week the 21 year old native of Port Coquitlam, BC made three relief appearances for Charlotte Stone Crabs and in the process, earned a win and a save. On April 18th in an 18-6 win over the Clearwater Threshers, he pitched 1 2/3 innings scoreless gave up three base hits while striking out one Clearwater batter, to earn the win. On April 22nd in a 10-8 win over Palm Beach Cardinals, he threw 2/3 scoreless gave up no hits while striking out one Cardinals hitter to earn his first save of the season. On April 24th in a 5-3 loss to the St. Lucie Mets he tossed 1 1/3 innings, he gave up three base hits and three earned runs while striking out three St. Lucie batters, but was not involved in the decision. His overall record with Charlotte in the Single A Florida State League now stands at 2-0, with one save and a 5.00 ERA.
Past Players of the Week
Week 1 _ OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Grove, Alta.) triple-A Memphis and 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) double-A San Antonio.
Week II _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) double-A New Hampshire.