Grayson Rodriguez Will Be A "Full-Go" For Spring Training
According to Jake Rill of MLB.com, Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (lat) will be a "full-go" for spring training. The 25-year-old missed the final two months of the 2024 season with a lat injury. Over 116 2/3 innings of work last summer, the right-hander held a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with a 13-4 record. Under the hood, the former top prospect generated a strong 30.0% whiff rate and 26.5% strikeout rate. In addition, he also generated a solid 3.72 xERA and .231 xBA, which were both above the average marks. This was a nice improvement compared to the 4.35 ERA and 1.34 WHIP he held during his rookie campaign in 2023. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training, as the former 11th overall selection could operate as the Baltimore ace during the entire 2025 season.
Orioles Optimistic Grayson Rodriguez Will Have A Full Spring Training
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias is optimistic that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) will have a normal, full spring training in 2025. Rodriguez's 2024 campaign ended early due to a right-lat issue, but it's no longer a concern. Specifically, the 24-year-old starter missed the final two months of the regular season for the O's, but he resumed throwing off a mound in September and should be full-go for spring training, barring a setback this winter. The former 11th overall pick in 2018 improved in his second big-league season, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA (3.66 FIP), a 1.24 WHIP, a career-high 130 strikeouts and only 36 walks in 116 2/3 innings over his 20 starts before injuring his lat. The rising young pitcher should once again be a coveted early-round target as a high-end fantasy starting pitcher now that he shouldn't have any injury question marks going into 2025.
Grayson Rodriguez, Felix Bautista, Jorge Mateo Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat), relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) and infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) will all be more or less full-go for the start of spring training next February. Rodriguez carries the most fantasy relevance of the trio as a high-end starting fantasy arm when healthy. The 24-year-old strained his right lat in early August and ran out of time to build his arm up and was unavailable in the Wild-Card series against the Royals this week. Rodriguez also missed some time with a shoulder injury in 2024. Bautista was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and saved 33 games, but he missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. When healthy, he should return as Baltimore's closer next year. Mateo had UCL reconstructive surgery on his left elbow in late August. If he returns fully healthy in 2025, he should settle into a utility role yet again for the O's.
Baltimore Orioles right-handed starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (lat) won't make a return to the mound this season, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The right-hander has been working his way back from a strained lat muscle that he suffered in the end of July. It doesn't sound like he suffered a setback, but more that the team just ran out of time to get him ready to pitch. The Orioles were hopeful to at least have Rodriguez available out of the bullpen during a postseason run. That won't happen as Rodriguez will finish the season with a 3.86 ERA across 20 starts.
Grayson Rodriguez Could Pitch Out Of The Bullpen When He Returns
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) is "moving in the right direction" but "time is not our friend." Elias left open the possibility of Rodriguez temporarily pitching out of the bullpen when he returns. Rodriguez is recovering from a strained right lat and has been throwing off a mound, but he's running out of time to get stretched out as a starting pitcher with the end of the 2024 regular season quickly approaching. When the 24-year-old is activated from the injured list, he could build his arm back up by coming on in relief out of the bullpen at the end of September. From there, it would be the team's call as to whether they trust him enough in a starting role in the playoffs. He has been out since late August but was a solid rotation piece for the O's and fantasy managers before his injury, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts in his 20 starts.
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat, shoulder) could face live hitters at some point during the team's road trip through Boston and Detroit that starts on Monday and runs through this coming Sunday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Rodriguez has been on the 15-day injured list since early August with a strained right lat but was able to throw off a mound next week and could go on a minor-league rehab assignment if he has a successful session throwing to live hitters this week. Barring a setback in that process, Rodriguez should be able to rejoin Baltimore's starting rotation in late September or just in time for the start of the playoffs. The former 11th overall pick in 2018 is a top-of the rotation starter next to Corbin Burnes when healthy, so the O's really will need him to be at the top of his game come October if they want to make a deep postseason run.
Grayson Rodriguez Feeling Good After First Bullpen
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) threw his first bullpen session that consisted of around 20 pitches on Wednesday at Camden Yards, and he said he felt good while mixing in some offspeed pitches as well. "Arm's feeling good," Rodriguez said. "That's the most important thing." It's good news for the O's, but Rodriguez is still likely several weeks away from a return to the big-league starting rotation. The 24-year-old suffered a lat strain almost a month ago and will most likely need at least one minor-league rehab start before returning to the majors. It means that he might have a couple more starts to help fantasy managers down the stretch, if that. The former 11th overall pick in 2018 has improved in his second year in Baltimore, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and nice 26.5% strikeout rate over his 20 starts.
Grayson Rodriguez Plans To Throw Off A Mound "Soon"
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) threw from flat ground at Dodgers Stadium before the series finale on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and said he plans to throw off a mound "soon." Rodriguez is deferring to the team's medical staff on what a timeline might look like for his return. It's good progress for the 24-year-old, but with just a month left in the regular season, fantasy managers aren't going to get much usage out of Rodriguez the rest of the way, even if he doesn't encounter any setbacks. The fact that Rodriguez last started for the O's on July 31 means he needs a bit longer to get his arm built back up as well. At this point, Baltimore's primary concern is most likely having him ready for a postseason run. In his second year in the big leagues, G-Rod has a 13-4 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 26.5% strikeout rate in 116 2/3 innings over 20 starts.
Orioles Hopeful Grayson Rodriguez Can Return In September
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (lat) only has a mild lat strain, according to GM Mike Elias, and the Orioles are hopeful he will be back in September. Baltimore will keep him shut down for 10 more days and will have him get more imaging in three weeks. This is positive news for Baltimore as they aim to position themselves in the AL playoff picture, giving them a reliable arm for a deep October run. Rodriguez pitched to a 3.86 ERA before hitting the 15-day IL. The Orioles' rotation has been a bit sketchy outside of AL Cy Young candidate Corbin Burnes, so a speedy return from Rodriguez into the rotation would be music to the Orioles' ears. Fantasy managers looking for an arm to replace Rodriguez in their lineups should look to Albert Suarez, who has posted a 3.75 ERA in 15 starts for the Orioles this season.
The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 4) on Wednesday with right-late/teres discomfort and recalled left-hander Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Rodriguez was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday due to the injury and will now miss at least the next two weeks. It's unclear if the 24-year-old will be able to come off the IL when he's eligible to return on Aug. 19, but he should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while we wait. Albert Suarez was used in an emergency spot start in place of Rodriguez on Tuesday and will likely take over Rodriguez's rotation spot for however long he's sidelined. Rodriguez has a league-high 13 wins in his second year in the big leagues in 2024 while also posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with a 130:36 K:BB in 20 starts over 116 2/3 innings. UPDATE: Manager Brandon Hyde said Rodriguez has a mild strain, and the O's are optimistic about the timeline for recovery, although an exact timeline is still TBD.
Grayson Rodriguez
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