Fastball

Baltimore Orioles Lose Young Stud Pitcher to Injured List, Recall Former All-Star

In a disappointing development, the Baltimore Orioles have placed young stud pitcher Grayson Rodriguez on the injured list. On the flip side, they have brought back former All-Star John Means.

Brady Farkas

Apr 23, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws
Apr 23, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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In a disappointing development, the Baltimore Orioles have lost young stud pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the injured list. However, they have also brought back former All-Star John Means from the injured list in a corresponding move.

Per Danielle Allentuck of BaltimoreBanner.com on social media:

Orioles news: Grayson Rodriguez is going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to April 30. John Means was activated

It is interesting that they are bringing Means back now, not on a start day, which makes me think he could be going in the bullpen

Allentuck corrected herself in a subsequent message, saying that Means was brought up today because his rehab window was up. Means figures to take Rodriguez's spot in the rotation, although Kyle Bradish is also due to come back from the IL this week.

The 24-year-old Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA thus far this season (six starts). He's struck out 37 batters in 34.0 innings. He made his Major League debut a season ago, when he went 7-4 with a 4.35 ERA as the Orioles won 101 games and the AL East crown.

As for Means, the 31-year-old Kansas native is a six-year Major League veteran. He served as the O's ace through the lean rebuilding years and made the All-Star team back in 2019. He's 74-69 lifetime with a 3.74 ERA.

The Orioles enter play on Wednesday at 19-10 overall. They'll take on the New York Yankees on Wednesday night with the first pitch from Camden Yards coming at 6:35 p.m. ET.

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Brady Farkas

BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.