CHICAGO — General supervisor Mike Elias wasn’t anticipating Grayson Rodriguez to start out the season down at Triple-A Norfolk. But after a tough Spring Training, the right-hander had issues to work on.
Rodriguez ultimately received the decision as much as the Majors on April 5, however his first two begins didn’t go to plan. Then, in his third profession begin, the rookie needed to wait out a 2-hour and 22-minute delay in 43-degree climate.
But Rodriguez settled in properly within the Orioles’ 8-4 comeback win in opposition to the White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field — regardless of a tough first inning.
“I’m so happy with how he settled in,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. “Giving up four [runs] in the first, it could have really unraveled on him.”
In the primary inning, he hung a 78 mph breaking ball down the center to Gavin Sheets for a three-run homer, and Jake Burger took him deep on a 97 mph fastball. Rodriguez allowed 4 runs on three hits and two walks within the opening body.
“I don’t think anybody likes it when it’s cold and rainy,” Rodriguez mentioned. “But just kind of getting used to it after the first inning, it really wasn’t that bad. I was able to block it all out.”
But as the sport went on, Rodriguez began to indicate why he’s baseball’s No. 5 general prospect. After a first-inning stroll to White Sox proper fielder Oscar Colás, Rodriguez retired 13 of the subsequent 16 batters he confronted earlier than exiting after 5 innings.
“Starting the game off [with] a little better pace is something that we’re going to work on before the next start,” Rodriguez mentioned. “We’re going to prepare a little bit differently. Ultimately eliminating that [first] inning [struggle].”
In his five-inning begin, Rodriguez allowed 4 runs on six hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. He gave up simply three singles after the primary inning — two of which had been infield hits.
“I think he wasn’t really sharp early, honestly,” Hyde mentioned. “This is his third start in the big leagues — tough conditions today for everyone, and not the easiest day to pitch. It was cold and wet, but I thought he did a great job battling and competing after that first inning.”
“It was huge,” Cedric Mullins added after his 3-for-5, four-RBI day on the plate. “I think the offense being able to back him up right there with runs made him even more comfortable going into the deeper innings. He looked really good out there.”
Rodriguez struggled to get by means of the highest of Chicago’s lineup the primary time round, however he breezed by means of it the second time by counting on his changeup. It resulted in plenty of off-balance swings and strikeouts for the O’s hurler.
“I faced him a couple of times down in Norfolk in Triple-A,” Burger mentioned. “He’s a great pitcher. He’s got really good stuff, young guy. So, I think he started mixing a lot better. Some days you don’t have it in the first inning, and you come back and figure it out.”
The changeup was Rodriguez’s best pitch on Sunday, leading to six strikeouts and eight whiffs on 27 pitches. It’s additionally a pitch that Rodriguez labored on all winter, and even into this season.
“In some past outings and in Spring Training, we’ve seen [it], it’s a plus pitch,” Hyde mentioned. “ I think he just needs really good command of it.”
Rodriguez positioned an additional emphasis on his changeup main as much as this begin. If he can discover his rhythm with the pitch — like he did within the Minors — he can be a significant factor for the O’s rotation this season.
“The changeup is something that helps me out a lot,” Rodriguez mentioned. “That was the first time that I felt like I had it this year. This week during the bullpen and catch-play, it’s something we really focused on, to get back to how I was throwing it in 2019, 2021 and last year. So, it was big for me to get that confidence back.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com