Orioles to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Grayson Rodriguez

One day after losing starting pitcher Kyle Bradish to a right foot contusion, the Baltimore Orioles are calling up top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez. He was drafted No. 11 overall out of high school in 2018. He will reportedly start on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers.

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.

Orioles To Promote Grayson Rodriguez https://t.co/qlHCZPKwDw pic.twitter.com/ekBOgmiW0L

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) April 5, 2023

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.