Canada’s Soroka named finalist for top NL rookie, Guerrero Jr. misses AL cut

mike-soroka-braves

Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka smiles in the dugout. (Curtis ComptonAtlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Atlanta Braves pitcher and Calgary native Mike Soroka has been named a National League Rookie of the Year finalist.

Soroka, 22, went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 174 2/3 innings this year for Atlanta. He had the lowest ERA among NL rookie starters and ranked fifth in strikeouts (142). Soroka also made the all-star team and reached ace status with the Braves.

His 5.6 WAR, measured by Baseball Reference, was second on Atlanta (behind only Josh Donaldson) and first among NL rookies.

The other NL Rookie of the Year finalists are New York Mets first baseman Peter Alonso (53 home runs, .941 OPS in 161 games) and San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (35 extra-base hits, .969 OPS in 84 games).

On the American League side, the Rookie of the Year finalists were Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe and Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means. That means Toronto Blue Jays rookies Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio missed the cut.

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