Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Officially optioned to Triple-A
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Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Monday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
It was revealed earlier Monday that Rodriguez wasn't going to be part of the Orioles' rotation and now he's officially been sent down. While the top prospect did struggle this spring, the odds are good that he'll get off to a good start with Norfolk and join the O's rotation sooner rather than later.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Won't be in Opening Day rotation
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Rodriguez will not be part of the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reports.
Prior to spring training, Rodriguez cracking the Opening Day rotation seemed like a foregone conclusion. However, Kostka writes that "the internal feeling was that Rodriguez hadn't been consistent enough" during his five Grapefruit League outings. The top prospect struck out 19 over 15.1 innings this spring but also walked seven and held a 7.04 ERA. Rodriguez should be part of Baltimore's rotation soon enough, but for now he'll have to wait.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Struggles in spring start
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Rodriguez was charged for five runs -- two earned -- over 3.2 innings of work Saturday in a Grapefruit League start against the Red Sox.
Rodriguez wasn't helped by his defense, but he allowed six hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts. The 22-year-old now has a 5.56 ERA in spring training, but Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports the Orioles very much want Rodriguez to be a part of their Opening Day rotation. With his ability to miss bats, fantasy managers should still be interested in making him a part of their roster.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Set for spring debut Thursday
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Rodriguez (lat) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday versus the Tigers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Rodriguez missed three months last season while at Triple-A Norfolk due to a right lat strain, although he did return late in the year and entered spring training without any restrictions. He'll face some workload limitations in 2023 but is expected to break camp as part of the Orioles' rotation.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Good bet for Opening Day rotation
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Orioles GM Mike Elias said Sunday he expects Rodriguez to make the team's Opening Day starting rotation, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.
The 23-year-old was poised to make his big-league debut last summer before a Grade 2 lat strain resulted in a three-month absence, though he returned from the injured list to make six appearances in September. Rodriguez made 14 starts for Triple-A Norfolk in 2022 and had a 2.20 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 97:21 K:BB across 69.2 innings, and he should crack Baltimore's Opening Day rotation with a decent showing during spring training. The young right-hander's reduced workload last year likely means he'll face some workload limitations in 2023.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Shielded from Rule 5 draft
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Headed back to Triple-A
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Moving rehab to Double-A
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws 1.1 innings
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws live BP
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Slated to face hitters
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws off mound
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Working on throwing program
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: May not return this season
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Shut down with lat strain
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Dealing with back cramps
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Exits with apparent injury
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Dominates again Tuesday
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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.
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Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Looking strong to open 2022
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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.
