Baltimore Orioles will have to wait on Grayson Rodriguez

It was a matter of time. Grayson Rodriguez had done all he could do in the minors and was showing that he was ready for the next challenge. The Baltimore Orioles did not have any excuses to keep him in the minors for much longer.

His debut is now on hold indefinitely. Rodriguez was removed from his outing in Triple-A last night after feeling discomfort. The Orioles announced on Thursday that Rodriguez has suffered a strained right lat muscle and was set to miss a significant amount of time.

Grayson Rodriguez injury comes at bad time for Baltimore Orioles

This injury appears to be the only thing left keeping Rodriguez in the minors. Orioles GM Mike Elias was asked how close Rodriguez was to being called up and responded that “the timing of this stinks.” It is not difficult to read between the lines there.

Rodriguez had done everything that the Orioles could have asked for in Triple-A. He had posted a 2.09 ERA and a 0.839 WHiP in his 56 innings, striking out 80 batters while issuing just 14 walks and allowing only one home run. There was no question that he was ready.

The Orioles also did not exactly have much blocking his path to the majors. Their rotation does not exactly rival the 1971 team that had four 20 game winners. Chances are, Rodriguez would not have suddenly turned the Orioles into a contending team either.

However, his arrival would have been another beacon of hope. Just as Adley Rutschman’s ascension to the majors was a sign that the Orioles are looking to come out of the rebuilding process soon, so too would have been Rodriguez’s. But now, that will have to wait.

Grayson Rodriguez was on the cusp of reaching the majors. Now the Baltimore Orioles’ top pitching prospect will have to wait.