Folty, Soroka making progress on back fields

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mike Foltynewicz and Mike Soroka took another step toward being cleared to begin pitching in games. But the Braves know they will go through the regular season’s first few weeks with their ace and top prospect on the injured list.

Braves manager Brian Snitker was pleased to see Foltynewicz complete a pain-free side session after being cleared to resume throwing off a mound Sunday morning. About an hour later, Snitker went to the back fields to watch Soroka throw batting practice for the first time since being shut down during Spring Training’s first week.

Foltynewicz’s side session marked the first time he was on a mound since he felt right elbow discomfort following his Feb. 24 spring debut. Soroka is a little further along with the recovery process since experiencing a right muscle strain.

In terms of the normal preparation, both pitchers are essentially where they would have been during Spring Training’s first week. So there’s a strong chance both will remain on the injured list until the latter half of April.

“I don’t even want to speculate on [a return timetable], because everything has to go right with this whole recovery, too,” Snitker said. “They’ll throw an inning or two and then build. All of that stuff has to be good, too. If there’s a setback, it’s almost like you’ve got to start over.”

Foltynewicz’s absence will create early-season opportunities for Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint, Bryse Wilson and Max Fried, the group of pitchers who came to camp vying for the chance to share the rotation’s fifth spot on a rotating basis. Each of these young hurlers have seen their stock rise since Soroka’s right shoulder became problematic last year.

Soroka missed the final three months of last season and incurred his latest issue while lifting weights in January. But the 21-year-old Canadian, who remains MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked Braves prospect, is hopeful he is now distancing himself from this frustrating stretch.

“Obviously what I want is to come back soon and jump back in there and just compete,” Soroka said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got to put our sights ahead for the end of the year. Regardless of when I come back, hopefully it’s all forgotten by September and October.”

Relievers to the IL
After spending the previous few days eliciting false hope, Snitker conceded A.J. Minter and Darren O’Day will likely begin the season on the injured list. The Braves came to camp hoping the relievers would serve as two of their primary high-leverage options.

Now Snitker is wondering who he will use as primary setup men for Arodys Vizcaino at the start of the season. Chad Sobotka created some promise as he worked a walk-free scoreless inning in Sunday’s 3-2 split-squad loss to the Tigers in Lakeland. But Sobotka had issued at least two walks in three of his four previous appearances. So, he’ll need to finish strong this week to gain an Opening Day roster spot and the potential to earn a late-inning role.

Dan Winkler has worked three scoreless innings since being slowed by a sore right elbow. He showed his potential value and was arguably Atlanta’s most reliable reliever through last season’s first two months.

O’Day has not been cleared to throw since experiencing right forearm discomfort during his March 1 debut. Minter also debuted in that game and faced just one batter because of left shoulder tightness caused by a car accident experienced two days earlier. But Minter has at least been throwing over the past few days and may be available within the season’s first two weeks.

Odds and ends
• Freddie Freeman’s sixth-inning homer off Astros southpaw Cionel Perez gives him three homers through his first 28 at-bats. He homered just twice in 47 spring at-bats last year.

• Dansby Swanson notched a pair of singles and produced a long opposite-field flyout during the loss to the Astros. Swanson is 4-for-12 against left-handed pitchers, but he has gone hitless in four at-bats against right-handers.

• Ozzie Albies was reintroduced to his original position when he started started at shortstop during the loss to the Tigers. The All-Star second baseman had not played the position since making 14 starts as Triple-A Gwinnett’s shortstop in 2017.

Up next
Bryse Wilson will take the mound when the Braves host the Yankees at 6:05 p.m. ET Monday. Wilson has pitched effectively enough to be considered to open the season within Atlanta’s rotation or bullpen.