If the young star pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles keeps playing like he did last season, he might be a breakout contender in 2024.
This offseason, the Baltimore Orioles are searching for starting pitchers. But they have young Grayson Rodriguez, who is a star in his own right. The 24-year-old displayed all the tools scouts had for him to enter the show in the second half of 2023, when he was dominant.
Given some of his early setbacks, Baltimore sparked concerns. Although it’s normal for him to not have his best stuff right away, Rodriguez was anticipated to pitch better than he did at first.
Rodriguez’s final few months of play demonstrated all of this and more, earning him a spot on MLB.com’s 2023 strong finishes list. According to Thomas Harrigan, there are good reasons to think he can have a successful 2024.
Rodriguez’s final few months of play demonstrated all of this and more, earning him a spot on MLB.com’s 2023 strong finishes list. According to Thomas Harrigan, there are good reasons to think he can have a successful 2024.
“Roberto Rodriguez, the No. 7 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline as of 2023, arrived in the Majors with a lot of fanfare. The hard-throwing righty was sent back to Triple-A in May after failing to find quick success with the Orioles, with a 7.35 ERA and a 5.90 FIP in his first ten outings, according to Harrigan.
“Roberto seemed to benefit much from the relocation, as he returned to MLB in July with more energy than before. Despite taking a heavy blow from the Rangers in his only postseason appearance, the 24-year-old’s performance over his
Teams facing the future Orioles ace should be concerned if he returns to form even better than he did in 2023. For the former 11th overall choice, the conclusion of 2023 was just the beginning of what lies ahead.
If the team wants to win 100 games and contend for the American League East title the next season, Grayson might be the key player.