Former MLB Executive Puts Orioles Future Ace On 'All-MLB Breakout Team'
Much of the excitement surrounding the young players on the Baltimore Orioles' MLB squad and in their farm system focuses on the position players.
It's hard to blame fans and evaluators for that either.
Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Jackson Holliday all ranked No. 1 in the minors, with Samuel Basallo potentially being their fourth straight.
Even the other prospects have star power written all over them, meaning they could have elite pros all over the field in the upcoming years.
However, there is one former elite prospect who is ready to ensure he isn't forgotten about as all these talented position players get called up to the MLB.
Grayson Rodriguez was taken by the Orioles No. 11 overall in the 2018 draft. The next year he immediately was considered one of their five best prospects.
From 2020-22, Rodriguez was No. 2 behind Rutschman in their pipeline, and he got his first opportunity to show what he could do on the big stage in April of 2023.
Things didn't quite go as planned early on for the right-hander as he posted an ERA of 7.35 in his 10 starts prior to the All-Star break. This prompted a demotion to Triple-A so he could re-find his form.
After getting called back up in mid-July, Rodriguez had a 2.38 ERA across 13 starts, flashing the potential that lauded him to be considered Baltimore's "future ace."
Heading into 2024, he's also caught the eye of former MLB executive Jim Bowden, who has listed the starter on his All-MLB Breakout Team.
"It's only a matter of time before he becomes the Orioles' ace ... Rodriguez has arguably the best raw stuff of the staff with a 97-99 mph fastball, a deceptive and effective changeup, a nasty slider and a solid cutter and curveball," Bowden wrote in an article for The Athletic.
That doesn't come as a surprise for fans of this team and the front office who drafted him.
Rodriguez was a sub-3.00 ERA starter throughout his minor league career.
"He needs to improve the command and control of his four-seam fastball. Once that gets locked in, I think he'll be in the Cy Young Award conversation for years to come," Bowden says.
Certainly high praise from someone who has been around the game for a long time.
With Kyle Bradish on the injured list to start the season, Baltimore needs the future ace to perform well.
If he pitches the way he did after the All-Star break throughout the entire upcoming year, then this staff will be one of the best in all of Major League Baseball.
