As the Baltimore Orioles continue to battle pitching woes this season, they’ve received an important update on right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, per Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner.
“Mike Elias said Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat strain) will have re-imaging in a few weeks. If that is positive, he could possibly throw a baseball before the end of May. Elias expects Rodriguez back before the end of year,” Kostka shared on X, formerly Twitter.
Rodriguez’s current injury setback came as he was working his way back from right elbow inflammation that initially landed him on the 15-day injured list to start the season. His struggles with injuries date back to spring training, where he first experienced right triceps soreness, and just days later, was moved to the IL.
He later reported shoulder soreness in early April after two bullpen sessions. The injury history is not new—Rodriguez missed three months in 2022 with a lat strain at Triple-A Norfolk and spent time on the IL last year with both right shoulder inflammation and a right lat/teres strain.
The Orioles entered the season hoping Grayson Rodriguez would emerge as the new ace of the rotation following the departure of Corbin Burnes. Instead, they’re now just hoping he can return quickly enough to help stabilize a pitching staff hit hard by injuries.
With a 12-18 record placing them at the bottom of the AL East, the Orioles recently held a hitters-only meeting in an effort to regroup. Rodriguez, speaking to Foul Territory TV, gave some insight into the vibe inside the clubhouse.
“You’ve got veterans stepping up and leading those meetings, and that’s a positive sign,” Rodriguez explained. “It shows there’s no real drama in the clubhouse right now. That’s good. A lot of teams that are struggling can start to fall apart, but we’re not seeing that here. Guys are focused, trying to problem-solve, looking for new ways to produce runs, and just getting back to fundamentals.”
Despite their rocky start, Rodriguez’s comments reflect a team still committed to finding solutions and maintaining cohesion.