The Baltimore Orioles are full of young and talented players that are prepared to help the team re-emerge as a postseason contender for the first time since 2016.
Led by Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the Orioles won 83 games in 2022 and came close to reaching the postseason, finishing just three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the final Wild Card spot.
But Henderson and Rutschman aren’t the only young stars for the team to be excited about.
In fact, there’s a certain pitcher waiting in the wings that the Orioles are quite high on.
The pitcher’s name?
On Twitter, MLB Network posted a graphic featuring his prospect profile.
Get to know the name 📈@Orioles | #Birdland pic.twitter.com/nUtnhV5YEv
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 6, 2023
It’s easy to see what the Orioles like about Rodriguez.
He was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 draft and is the No. 7 ranked prospect on MLB.com.
Scouts have noted Rodriguez’s outstanding four-pitch mix as something to keep an eye on.
His fastball can touch triple digits and he can fill the strike zone with all offerings.
The Orioles have a lot to look forward to when it comes to their prospects, especially Rodriguez.
The team made some key moves to bolster their pitching staff and bridge the gap for Rodriguez, but it shouldn’t take too much longer for him to reach the Major Leagues.
He made the jump from Single-A all the way up to Triple-A in 2022.
In 17 starts, the 23-year-old went 6-2 and posted an ERA of 2.62.
At Triple-A, he started 14 games and had an ERA of 2.20, winning six of those starts.
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