Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Shielded from Rule 5 draft
Rotowire
Rodriguez was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster Tuesday.
As arguably the top pitching prospect in the game, this was a forgone conclusion, as it protects Rodriguez from the Rule 5 draft. A Grade 2 lat strain prevented Rodriguez from making his big-league debut last season, but he has essentially nothing left to prove in the minors. The Orioles will have to manage his innings in 2023, as he totaled 75.2 innings last season and is the most promising pitcher in the organization.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Headed back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) has completed his rehab assignment and will return from Triple-A Norfolk's 60-day injured list during the upcoming weekend and slot back into the affiliate's rotation, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
The 22-year-old right-hander was on the shelf for three months with a right lat strain before he began his rehab assignment Sept. 1 at High-A Aberdeen. He proceeded to move up to Double-A Bowie for his last two rehab starts, covering 4.2 innings between those outings while striking out 11 batters. Rodriguez's workload will likely be monitored carefully at Triple-A the rest of the way, but he could still be a candidate for a promotion to the big leagues over the final few weeks of the season if Baltimore remains in contention for a wild-card spot.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Moving rehab to Double-A
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) will continue his rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Rodriguez began his rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Aberdeen, logging 1.1 scoreless innings. It's unclear how many additional rehab appearances the right-hander will need before he can rejoin Triple-A Norfolk. It's still possible he gets a cup of coffee with the Orioles before the end of the year as long as his recovery continues to go well.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws 1.1 innings
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) threw 1.1 scoreless innings while walking two and striking out one in a rehab outing with High-A Aberdeen on Thursday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez appeared in game action for the first time since June 1, so it makes sense that he wasn't pushed in terms of workload. However, he was spotted throwing in the bullpen after the outing to continue to build up his pitch count. It's unclear what Baltimore has planned for Rodriguez, though it's possible he makes his big-league debut as a reliever so long as the team remains in wild-card contention.
Rodriguez (lat) will report to High-A Aberdeen on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
Rodriguez, who has been on the injured list at Triple-A Norfolk since early June, may require multiple tune-up outings in the lower rungs of the minors before reporting to the Orioles' top affiliate. Due to the extended time he missed while recovering from a right lat strain, Rodriguez may not have enough time to get stretched out for a traditional starter's role, but he'll still have an outside shot at earning a promotion to the majors in September as a reliever while the Orioles remain in contention for a wild-card spot.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws live BP
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) successfully completed a live batting practice session Wednesday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez is ramping up his workload in his throwing program this week, and he felt good after facing hitters Wednesday. Assuming he remains free of setbacks in the coming days, he's expected to pitch in a simulated game sometime later this week.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Slated to face hitters
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) will face hitters this week, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez threw 25 pitches off a mound two weeks ago, and he'll ramp up his workload this week as he continues to recover from a right lat strain. He's slated to throw a bullpen, live batting practice and a simulated game this week, and it seems likely that he'll be able to return from Triple-A Norfolk's 60-day injured list sometime in September.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws off mound
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) threw 25 pitches off a mound Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Rodriguez's throwing session Wednesday marked the first time that he's thrown off a full mound since landing on the injured list in early June; Kubatko notes that the right-hander threw off a half-mound Monday. Though the 22-year-old was shut down for several weeks after sustaining his injury June 1, the Orioles are optimistic that he'll be able to return to action for Triple-A Norfolk before the end of the season.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Working on throwing program
Rotowire
Rodriguez (lat) has begun throwing on flat ground from 120 feet, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Rodriguez has been shut down since early June with a Grade 2 lat strain, but the Orioles remain optimistic he can return to action before the end of the season. That said, he still has numerous hurdles to overcome in his recovery, and it's unlikely he's back before September.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: May not return this season
Rotowire
Rodriguez has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain, and it's possible he will not return this season, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The team estimated a September return while acknowledging that it could be a longer or shorter absence. General manager Mike Elias said Rodriguez could still get a spot in the 2023 rotation even if he doesn't return this year. Rodriguez is a candidate to pitch in the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Shut down with lat strain
Rotowire
Rodriguez has been shut down from throwing after being diagnosed with a strained right lat muscle, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
The 22-year-old exited Wednesday's start for Triple-A Norfolk with right lat discomfort, and he's now expected to miss "a decent amount of time at a minimum," according to GM Mike Elias. The right-hander has a 2.09 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 80:14 K:BB over 56 innings this season and appeared to be on the cusp of his major-league debut, but Rodriguez -- who is arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball -- is now facing what could be a lengthy absence.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Dealing with back cramps
Rotowire
Rodriguez was lifted from Wednesday's start for Triple-A Norfolk due to cramps in his back, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez exited Wednesday's outing after 5.2 scoreless innings when he showed some decreased velocity, but the initial diagnosis of back cramps should alleviate concerns of a serious injury. The 22-year-old is still scheduled to undergo additional testing, but it appears he's dealing with only a minor injury and shouldn't miss much time, if any.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Rodriguez was removed from Wednesday's start with Triple-A Norfolk due to an apparent injury, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
The 22-year-old delivered 5.2 scoreless innings before being looked at by the training staff and leaving Wednesday's contest. According to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun, the mound visit during the sixth inning occurred after Rodriguez saw his fastball velocity drop to 89 mph from the mid 90s. The right-hander, who is one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, should be considered day-to-day until more information is available on the apparent injury.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Dominates again Tuesday
Rotowire
Rodriguez struck out a season-high 11 while allowing three walks and three hits across 5.1 scoreless innings in a win for Triple-A Norfolk over Charlotte on Tuesday.
He's now sitting on a 2.65 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 57:13 K:BB across 37.1 innings this year -- right in line with his history of dominance throughout the minor leagues. There aren't a lot of flaws to be found in GrayRod's game, but it's worth noting that 10 of those 13 walks have come in his last four starts. He also hasn't been permitted to go deeper than 5.1 innings in any outing this year. In short, he isn't superhuman, but he's still one of the most exciting pitching prospects to come along in quite some time. With five plus pitches and velocity that can touch 100, he has the look of an instant-impact arm. The only question left is when the O's will see fit to promote him.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Looking strong to open 2022
Rotowire
Rodriguez has posted a 2.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 15:1 K:BB across nine innings in his first two starts for Triple-A Norfolk.
Any concerns that baseball's best pitching prospect would be slowed in his ascent by Triple-A bats have been alleviated early on. Rodriguez hasn't pitched deep into either of his first two starts, but that can likely be chalked up to the abbreviated spring slate -- though it is worth noting that he threw just 103 innings last season, so the O's will likely monitor his workload this year. Despite John Means (elbow) hitting the IL, there's been no serious talk of promoting Rodriguez quite yet, but it looks like just a matter of time.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Hits new career high in punchouts
Rotowire
Rodriguez struck out a career-high 12 over five innings for Double-A Bowie in a 6-2 win over Erie on Sunday. He permitted one unearned run on two hits and one walk in the 83-pitch outing.
Heading into Sunday's start, Rodriguez had already dazzled over his first seven outings at Double-A, posting a 2.34 ERA and 0.81 WHIP while recording 45 punchouts in 34.2 innings. He somehow managed to raise the bar against a loaded Erie lineup, which featured a trio of highly regarded Tigers prospects in Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler. The 21-year-old righty looks like one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, and if he continues to dominate in the upper levels of the minors, he should be on track to join Baltimore's big-league rotation by the middle of 2022.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Cruising in Double-A
Rotowire
Rodriguez has posted a 1.82 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 36:7 K:BB through five starts with Double-A Bowie.
The 21-year-old righty dominated across five starts in High-A before being promoted, and he hasn't missed a beat with the move to a higher level of competition. All in all, he's surrendered just nine runs in 10 minor-league starts this year with a 76:12 K:BB in 48.0 innings. Rodriguez's future looks extremely bright, though he probably won't make his MLB debut until next year.
