MLB rumors: Orioles make move to become baseball’s most fun team
The Orioles already have one of the most fun young rosters in MLB but it’s about to get even better with their latest rumored roster move.
Though it’s been a long, tough stretch for Baltimore Orioles fans to endure over recent years, the result of losing far more often than winning has been one of the richest farm systems in MLB. And now they are starting to reap the rewards of that.
Star catcher Adley Rutschman was called up in 2022 and made a name for himself immediately, an act he is following up with an even better encore to start this season. Meanwhile, another top prospect in baseball, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, is also on the roster.
Now it’s time to add a pitcher to the mix.
On Tuesday, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reported that the Orioles are calling up the organization’s top prospect (who’s still in the minors) and the No. 6 prospect in MLB for Baseball America, right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the big leagues on Wednesday.
Orioles reportedly calling up top prospect RHP Grayson Rodriguez
Rodriguez will get the start for Baltimore in the series finale against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Fittingly, as noted by ESPN insider Jeff Passan, one of the best prospects in baseball will get his first MLB start against one of the best pitchers in baseball, Jacob deGrom.
The 23-year-old Rodriguez was the Orioles’ first-round pick (11th overall) in 2018 and has dominated in the minors over the past year. In Triple-A, where he made 14 starts last season, he posted a 2.20 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP and 97 strikeouts in 69.2 innings. Blessed with a lethal four-pitch mix and tough angles from his 6-foot-5 frame, his future is quite bright.
Baltimore already had a case as one of the most fun teams in baseball. With their influx of talented youth in recent years, the team is turning it around and in an entertaining way. Now having Rodriguez in the rotation, particularly if he continues to ascend, will only further solidify what O’s fans would tell you already: The 2023 Orioles are a joy and a pleasure to watch.