Michael Soroka is doing something only Randy Johnson has done in Diamondbacks history

Michael Soroka is doing something only Randy Johnson has done in Diamondbacks history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sometimes, early-season numbers are just numbers. And sometimes, they tell you something much bigger is happening. That is where Michael Soroka finds himself right now.

Through his first three starts with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Soroka has already recorded two games with 10 or more strikeouts. That alone is impressive. But the company it puts him in is what makes it feel different. The only other pitcher in franchise history to do that in his first three appearances is Randy Johnson.

That is not just a hot start. That is history.

A start that demands attention

Soroka’s early numbers jump off the page. He is 3-0 with a 2.87 ERA and 23 strikeouts through just over 15 innings. More importantly, he has already shown the ability to take over a game.

The 10 strikeout outings are not coming from fluky performances. They are coming from a pitcher who looks in control, attacking hitters and missing bats at a level that changes how opponents approach him.

For a team trying to stay competitive in a tough National League West, that kind of presence at the top of the rotation matters.

Why this comparison actually means something

Any time a pitcher is mentioned alongside Randy Johnson, it deserves a pause. Johnson is not just a franchise icon in Arizona. He is one of the most dominant pitchers the game has ever seen, a Hall of Famer whose legacy is built on overpowering hitters.

Soroka is not being asked to be Johnson. That is not realistic. But matching a piece of his history, even in a small sample, says something about how electric this start has been. It also highlights how rare this kind of beginning is, even for great pitchers.

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A comeback story quietly building

What makes this even more interesting is where Soroka is coming from. His career has not followed a straight line. Injuries and inconsistency have interrupted what once looked like a clear path to stardom. That context makes this stretch feel less like a random hot streak and more like something that has been building.

There is a different level of confidence in how he is pitching right now. He is not just surviving innings. He is controlling them.

The bigger picture for Arizona

For the Diamondbacks, this is more than a cool stat. If Soroka can continue anything close to this level, it changes the ceiling of their rotation. It gives them a legitimate weapon who can dominate lineups and swing series.

And in a division where every edge matters, that is the kind of development that can reshape expectations.

The takeaway

It is still early. Baseball always reminds you of that. But when a pitcher starts a season by doing something only Randy Johnson has done in franchise history, it is worth paying attention.

Soroka has not just returned. He is making a statement.

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