TORONTO -- Michael Soroka’s first start in nearly a year ended abruptly on Monday. But he and the Nationals were able to breathe a sigh of relief when a diagnosis showed a right biceps cramp.
“I think we’ll be OK,” Soroka said. “It’s just kind of one of those things where it’s not something you want to feel and it’s not something that’s worth ripping through, especially at that point in the game and this point in the season.”
The Calgary native was in the sixth inning of his Nationals debut at Rogers Centre when he delivered a slider to Andrés Giménez. The pitch, his 83rd of the night, landed in the dirt and bounced at home plate.
Soroka, who has dealt with significant injuries in his career, immediately knew something wasn’t right. He wasn’t going to try to pitch through the discomfort. Following a mound visit, Soroka left the game with head athletic trainer Paul Lessard.
“You know the difference between something that’s just a one-off and something that maybe needs a little more attention,” Soroka, 27, said. “I knew that was a feeling that shouldn’t be there, and I wanted to make sure that we were smart about it. As unfortunate as it is to have to leave the game and not get to compete through the sixth inning, I think it’ll allow me to get back out there again in five or six days.”
Soroka underwent strength testing after his exit. The team will monitor how he is feeling on Wednesday.
“The minute you see a pitcher stand on the mound like that and we have to go out, you always try to be positive, but you always assume the worst -- especially when you’re talking about their arm,” manager Dave Martinez said. “But right now it’s just a cramp, and hopefully that’s all it is.”
Soroka has been re-establishing himself as a starting pitcher after he was moved to the White Sox bullpen last season. The Nats signed him to a one-year, $9 million deal on Dec. 19 to join their rotation.
Monday was Soroka’s first regular-season start since May 12, 2024. In five-plus innings, he allowed four runs off five hits -- including a second-inning home run to Giménez -- and one walk. He also struck out three. Soroka threw his four-seamer for 45 percent of his pitches and maxed at 95.8 mph.
“It wasn’t obviously the best, not the way you want to start the season, but I thought I competed,” Soroka said. “… They made me pay on a couple mistakes. All in all, though, I thought we commanded the breaking ball fairly well, and [we need to] just make sure we take the positives and move forward.”
Soroka is only the fourth player born in Canada to play on the Nationals in team history (2005-present). He joined Shawn Hill (Mississauga, Ontario), Pete Orr (Richmond Hill, Ontario) and Matt Stairs (Saint John, New Brunswick).
“I grew up quite a ways from Toronto, but it’s still the team and the organization that I grew up watching the most,” Soroka said. “It means a little more, it feels a little different here. … It’s a place that I’ve always tried to bring the A-game, and maybe that’s part of it. Maybe I’m trying a little too hard.”
Monday marked his fourth career start against the Blue Jays. During his first time pitching in Toronto as a rookie with the Braves in 2018, he “threw something I shouldn’t have,” which turned into a right shoulder strain. Seven years later, Soroka implemented that lesson.
“That’s something that you take moving forward,” Soroka said. “... There are things you don’t want to push too far, so I made sure that didn’t happen today.”