Former AS pitcher broke Johnson's D-backs franchise record in debut

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Michael Soroka. Joe Rondone/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Former All-Star pitcher broke Randy Johnson's Diamondbacks franchise record in debut

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Mar 31, 2026 3:08 PM ET

Only one game into his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka has already created comparisons with a franchise icon.

During his season and team debut on Monday night, Soroka, 28, was so dominant that he passed Baseball Hall of Famer Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts in a pitcher's first start with the Diamondbacks.

Soroka's new franchise record came during Arizona's 9-6 win over the visiting Detroit Tigers. The former All-Star (2019) struck out 10 batters in just five innings of work. He also pitched a shutout, giving up only four hits and allowing only one walk.

Michael Soroka has set the bar very high for his 2026 season

Now 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, Soroka has set the bar extremely high for the rest of his 2026 season with his new team.

Dominance in the desert

Michael Soroka passed Hall of Famer Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts in a @Dbacks debut!

(MLB x @SageUSAmerica) pic.twitter.com/QAHCCE2kOq
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) March 31, 2026

The Diamondbacks added Soroka to their rotation this offseason, signing him to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with a mutual option for a 2027 return.

Michael Soroka has bounced around a lot in his career

Before joining Arizona, his fifth different MLB franchise in now seven seasons, he split the 2025 season with the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs following a midsummer trade. Before 2025, he spent one season with the Chicago White Sox in 2024.

Soroka was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He was called up in 2018, going 2-1 in five starts. He would stay with the Braves until being traded in November 2023.

Michael Soroka has been an All-Star in the past

His best season in Atlanta came in 2019 when he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 174.2 innings. He endured back-to-back lost seasons in 2021 and 2022 due to injury.

Through 92 games and 70 starts, Soroka now owns a 21-26 record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.219 WHIP. Soroka carries a career bWAR of 6.9. While it's doubtful he continues the standard set by his first start this season, Soroka has at least shown flashes of being a high-level pitcher in the past.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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