Nine days after the Orioles surprisingly sent Grayson Rodriguez, their top pitching prospect, to Triple-A Norfolk, they’ve promoted him to start Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers.
After the Orioles’ 7-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters in Texas he didn’t know who the Orioles would start on Wednesday. On Wednesday morning, though, he Orioles announced that Rodriguez would start against Texas’ Jacob deGrom. He will wear No. 30.
Rodriguez, who had a 7.04 earned-run average in spring training, pitched on Friday night for the Tides, allowing four runs, one unearned, on four hits, walking four and striking out two while throwing 75 pitches.
Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish suffered a bruised right foot when he was hit by a line drive in the second inning of Monday’s 2-0 victory over Texas. Tyler Wells, who was scheduled to start on Tuesday night, pitched five perfect innings in relief of Bradish.
Bradish was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday.
Kyle Gibson started Tuesday night’s game, and instead of going with Austin Voth, who started 17 times for the Orioles last season and is currently a reliever, the team opted for Rodriguez.
“He just didn’t have a good start this spring,” general manager Mike Elias said when discussing Rodriguez’s demotion on March 27th. “He didn’t get out of the fourth inning.”
The Orioles might need Voth to pitch multiple innings after Rodriguez’s stint is completed on Wednesday.
Rodriguez, who was the Orioles’ top pick in 2018, was on the verge of being promoted to the major leagues last June but suffered a lat injury and missed three months.
Hall takes loss for Norfolk: DL Hall allowed three runs on five hits in three innings as Norfolk lost to Gwinnett, 6-1. Hall gave up two walks and struck out six, throwing 70 pitches.
Ryan O’Hearn hit his second home run for the Tides, who lost for the first time after sweeping Durham in their season-opening three-game series.