Calgary Herald

Cool Soroka hopes his number’s up

Big right-hander hopes to be selected in first or second round of MLB draft

- SCOTT CRUICKSHAN­K scruicksha­nk@calgaryher­ald.com Twitter/ Cruickshan­kCH

It’s nearly 20 years ago, but, of course, Chris Reitsma remembers the anxiety.

Taking the day off school, with his parents’ blessing.

Sitting at home. And sweating. And waiting.

“That was before the Internet,” Reitsma says with a chuckle. “The phone would ring and it would be the dentist or some other person calling for normal everyday stuff. But your heart starts racing.”

The Calgary teenager did eventually have his hopes answered.

On the line were the Boston Red Sox, who congratula­ted Reitsma. They had just secured his rights with a first-round selection in the Major League Baseball draft. (At 34th overall, he was chosen 16 picks after R.A. Dickey.)

“There’s the sigh of relief and the realizatio­n of what’s going on,” Reitsma says. “It’s a broad range of emotions that day because you’re fielding calls and you’re thinking about where you might go. But at the same time, it’s a once-in-alifetime experience. It was pretty cool for me.” That was 1996. Will history repeat? Mike Soroka, 18, sure hopes so. Without doubt, he’s a tantalizin­g prospect.

And, like Reitsma, he’s a tall, right-handed pitcher from Calgary. Soroka’s fate will be determined Monday evening, the start of the MLB’s three-day draft.

As the national junior squad’s pitching coach, Reitsma knows well Soroka — and he realizes comparison­s are inevitable.

“Mike and I are very similar physically,” says the 37-year-old. “I would say at this age, Mike is more polished than I was, in terms of being ready to be able to move quickly in profession­al baseball.”

Partly because of Soroka’s in- valuable experience with Canada’s junior side.

Partly because of his mental makeup.

“Truthfully, since this whole process started two years ago, he’s been very mature, very businessli­ke, and he’s enjoyed it all the way through,” says Reitsma. “I’m quite proud of him for that, because a lot of kids, close to the draft, get a little bit anxious and go off the rails — and he definitely hasn’t.”

In fact, this spring with scouts flocking to get a peek at him, Soroka has done nothing but boost his stock.

During the national juniors’ latest tour — last month in the Dominican Republic — he dominated. In 13 innings over three appearance­s, he struck out 16, permitting one hit and no runs.

“I laid it all on the line for a few months — now it’s just a matter of waiting,” says Soroka. “This entire spring, that was one of our key focuses — just keeping it fun. It’s still a game. It’s still baseball. People who put too much pressure on themselves are the ones who end up the most nervous on draft day.

“I have no regrets about this entire spring. Definitely a fun time … the experience of a lifetime.”

On Baseball America’s annual rankings of prospects, Soroka is slotted 88th. (Reitsma says he would be shocked if the lad lasted beyond the second round.)

Meaning he’s on the big-league radar. Meaning he’s a surefire pick. Then Soroka will face a decision. Take the money, turn pro, immediatel­y report for rookie ball.

Or pitch for the Medicine Hat Mavericks this summer in the Western Major Baseball League, then attend the University of California-Berkeley on scholarshi­p. (After his junior year, he can reenter the draft.)

“I mean, I can’t really beat that … it’s a win-win for me,” says Soroka. “If (the draft) works out, then great. If not, I’ll be very excited to go to Cal. “Anything can happen, right?” But, as Reitsma happily outlines, there is plenty to appreciate about the Bishop Carroll High School student.

Size — He’s already six-foot-four and 210 pounds (with a six-foot-six father).

Throwing motion — “A very loose arm, a very clean delivery,” says Reitsma. “By that I mean, when you watch him throw it looks easy … and the really good ones make it look easy. If you’re a hockey player and you skate nice and easy, it just looks like you’re floating. That means it comes naturally, and Mike has that.”

Velocity — “A fastball that’s touched 95 miles per hour, which is a pretty big number for anybody, but especially a high school kid.”

Spin-rate on his breaking balls. An increasing command of his change-up. Composure on the mound. “That’s how he grades out,” says Reitsma. “A very polished kid and physical at the same time.”

It’s worth noting the draft serves as recognitio­n of talent — not a guarantee of fame.

“It’s going to be a long road for him like it was for me,” says Reitsma, who — in a seven-year career (2001-07) with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners — owned a 32-46 record, with 37 saves.

“It takes a while to get there. For a very above (-average) high school kid, you’re looking at three and a half, four years, to get to the big leagues. With baseball, it’s a grind. But he’s got work ethic and he’s focused.

“In my profession­al opinion, there’s a very good chance he’s a major-league baseball player some day.”

People who put too much pressure on themselves are the ones who end up the most nervous on draft day.

 ??  ?? Calgary’s Mike Soroka, 18, a right-handed pitcher with Canada’s national junior squad, expects to be selected in Major League Baseball’s upcoming draft. Baseball America ranks him 88th among all prospects.
Calgary’s Mike Soroka, 18, a right-handed pitcher with Canada’s national junior squad, expects to be selected in Major League Baseball’s upcoming draft. Baseball America ranks him 88th among all prospects.

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