Grayson Rodriguez Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Track Record: Rodriguez, a pop-up prospect signed for $4.3 million as the 11th pick in the 2018 draft, has done nothing but dominate since joining the Orioles. He shared the organization's pitcher of the year honors in 2019, won it on his own in 2021 and was on the cusp of a big league debut as the May Triple-A International League pitcher of the month before a lat strain in early June kept him out for two months. He returned to the mound in September but wasn't summoned to the majors before the season ended.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez's stuff remained similar to that which made him the game's top pitching prospect entering the season. His fastball sat 95-99 mph and topped out at 100 with above-average hop, and he showed the ability to spot it in every part of the strike zone. He executed his development goal of achieving more consistent top-end spin in 2022, because in past years the consistency of his pitch action could waver. His plus-plus slider remains his top secondary pitch, sitting 79-85 mph with late bite, and he uses different shapes depending on the situation. Rodriguez's changeup, a pitch he learned in pro ball, is a plus pitch as well, with screwball-like action that works to both sides of the plate. His curveball has above-average potential, and Rodriguez ramped up usage of his new low-90s cutter as the season went on, especially against lefthanded hitters. His lat injury was his first major setback, but Rodriguez otherwise has the makings of a physical, innings-eating workhorse with a durable, repeatable delivery.

The Future: Rodriguez has top-of-the-rotation potential and a mid-rotation floor based on his stuff, pitch mix and mentality. The Orioles expect him to compete for a major league rotation job in spring training, and he'll be favored to win one given his talents.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Curveball: 55. Slider: 70. Changeup: 60. Control: 65