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Orioles to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Grayson Rodriguez

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Brady Farkas | Last updated 4/4/23

The Baltimore Orioles have been scrambling in the starting pitching department but appear to have figured out a solution. They are calling up top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez and he will start on Wednesday on the road at the Texas Rangers.

The Orioles needed a starter because they lost Kyle Bradish on Monday to injury when he was hit by a line drive. As a result of losing Bradish in the second inning, the Tuesday starter, Tyler Wells, ended up pitching 5.0 scoreless in relief. That forced Kyle Gibson to start on Tuesday and left a hole for Wednesday.

Rodriguez is just 23 years old and competed for a spot in the starting rotation out of spring training but was ultimately sent to AAA Norfolk.

He pitched to a 7.04 ERA in 15 1/3 spring training innings. The Baltimore Banner reports that he allowed 11 runs in his final 10 2/3 innings of the spring.

He dealt with a lat injury in 2022 that has pushed him down prospect rankings, but he is the Orioles top pitching prospect and is still generally viewed as a top-20 prospect around the game.

He has a career 2.49 ERA in the minor leagues. From his MLB.com profile:

Rodriguez has an outstanding four-pitch mix with the chance to have at least three plus pitches in his repertoire. His high-spin fastball touches triple digits, can sit easily in the mid-to-upper 90s deep into starts, and he throws the pitch with plus life. He might have the best changeup in the Minors, a mid-80s off-speed pitch that he tunnels well off his fastball to create deception and hard, late life. He misses bats with his mid-80s slider, and even his fourth pitch, a tighter low-80s curve, has improved."

Wednesday's Orioles and Rangers game is set for 2:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Park.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

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