NEW YORK—Grayson Rodriguez won’t pitch again in 2025. Manager Brandon Hyde announced that the Orioles’ 24-year-old right-hander, who has been on the 15-day injured list with right lat/teres discomfort, won’t be available for the postseason.
“We’re going to, unfortunately shut him down,” Hyde said. “He’s going to miss the playoffs, and we’re going to get him ready for 2025.”
Rodriguez stopped his preparation for his August 6th start in Toronto and while he’s been throwing bullpen sessions, he never progressed to facing hitters in live batting practice.
“Just ran out of time with him,” Hyde said. “It’s disappointing and tough. He’s so talented and a huge part of our rotation this year and going forward.
“There wasn’t a setback. He was progressing fine. It’s normally an injury which takes some time and to get him back for the playoffs was going to be a little bit of a rush and we just felt like for his health, for his future, it’s the right thing to do.”
Rodriguez ends 2024 with a 13-4 record and a 3.86 ERA in 20 starts. He struck out 130 batters in 116 2/3 innings. Earlier in the season, he missed two starts with right shoulder inflammation.
“That’s a loss. We’ve missed him,” Hyde said.
In a potential wild-card series next week, Corbin Burnes, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer, who started the postseason clincher on Tuesday night against the Yankees, should be the rotation with Albert Suárez and Cade Povich in reserve.
“The way Dean’s throwing the ball and Suárez and Povich have pitched well, and you have [Eflin and Burnes] throwing the next two days, you feel good about it,” Hyde said.
Rodriguez joins Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells as starters who won’t pitch in the postseason. Bradish, Means and Wells each had season-ending elbow injuries.
“I’m kind of past that, love to have them, though,” Hyde said. “It’s part of the game, unfortunately. It’s part of the game that stinks. We’ve been missing guys all year and hung in there, and we’re excited about these next five and going into the postseason.”