Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Will be ready for spring training
Rotowire
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Rodriguez (lat) to more or less by without restrictions at the beginning of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Rodriguez sustained a right lat strain in early August and was eventually shut down in late September after it became apparent he wasn't going to make it back for the regular or postseason. He should be able to have a relatively normal throwing program during the offseason, though health concerns could linger given how much time he missed in 2024.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced Wednesday that Rodriguez (lat) has been shut down and won't pitch again this season, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The 24-year-old hasn't suffered any sort of setback with the lat strain he sustained in early August, but he apparently hadn't progressed enough to be a potential factor during the playoffs. Rodriguez will focus his rehab efforts on getting ready for 2025 after finishing this season with a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 130:36 K:BB across 116.2 innings.
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Could return as reliever
Rotowire
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday that it's possible Rodriguez (lat) temporarily pitches out of the bullpen when he eventually returns from the 15-day injured list, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez is throwing off a mound and is "moving in the right direction," per Elias, as the right-hander works his way back from a lat strain. However, he is simply running out of time to get built back up before the end of the regular season, so the Orioles might have no choice but to use him in relief initially as they rebuild his stamina on the fly. Rodriguez has been sidelined since early August.
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Could face hitters this week
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) could face hitters at some point this week during the Orioles' road trip, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez began throwing off a mound last week and should be able to take the next step in his recovery soon. The right-hander has been sidelined since early August with a right lat strain and will surely need a rehab start or two before rejoining the Orioles' rotation, so he's probably looking at a late-September return even if all goes well.
Rodriguez (lat) threw a bullpen session at Camden Yards on Wednesday, Baltimore Banner Sports reports.
The right-hander got back on the mound for the first time since he was diagnosed with a strained lat nearly a month ago. Rodriguez will need to face hitters at least once before being cleared for a rehab start, but that should come soon. The 24-year-old is probably still at least a couple weeks away from a return from the 15-day injured list, however.
Rodriguez (lat) threw from flat ground before Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez threw from flat ground for the second time this week and will progress to work from the mound soon. No exact timeline for his increased activity or activation from the injured list has been revealed.
