Featured

State of Alberta’s Game 2019

There is no shortage of topics of discussion for baseball officials heading into 2020.

The game’s growth has been front and centre as we see more talent make their way to higher levels, but enrollment, training and coaching will also be on their radar.

We chatted with Baseball Alberta’s Darren Dekinder recently for his analysis of 2019 and what’s to come in the new year.

Alberta’s All-Decade Squad

‘Tis the season for year-end and decade-end lists.

We decided to put a different spin on those lists with a roster of Alberta’s baseball talent to suit up between 2010 and 2019.

From an MLB phenom to college stars to women’s national team stalwarts, take a look at who we think deserves recognition for their performances.

Soroka Just Getting Started

It’s a frightening scenario for opposing batters next season: an improved Mike Soroka on the mound in 2020.

In some ways, that hardly seems possible.

The towering right-handed pitcher from Calgary is coming off a storybook rookie season for the Atlanta Braves that saw him post a 13-4 record, 2.68 earned run average (ERA) and 142 strikeouts over 174.2 innings.

Historic Performance

We are still buzzing from Calgarian Mike Soroka’s historic outing for the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The former Calgary PBF Redbirds pupil pitched seven innings of one-run baseball, allowing just two hits and no walks. The 22-year-old also struck out seven batters and, while he didn’t personally get the win, Soroka set the table for a dramatic ninth-inning comeback that earned the Braves a 3-1 victory.

During the Busch Stadium performance, the righthander put himself in the record books for several reasons.

Mike Soroka’s Winning Ways

Calgarian Mike Soroka established himself as the ace of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation this year, and in so doing, inserted himself into the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year race AND the Cy Young Award discussion.

The 6-foot-5 righthander had a remarkable regular season, going 13-4, with a 2.68 earned run average (ERA) and 142 strikeouts over 174.2 innings pitched. The PBF Redbirds graduate also helped lead the Braves to the NL East Division title.

Since his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut against the New York Mets on May 1, 2018, Soroka has shown he has what it takes to win ball games.

To celebrate his successful 2019 campaign, we’ve assembled the video highlights of each one of his 15 career MLB victories. Enjoy!