SARASOTA, Fla. — Grayson Rodriguez is participating in his third career major league spring training, but this year he’s taking the mound not having to worry about the results of each start affecting his place on the team.
The Orioles brought Rodriguez to camp as a nonroster invitee in 2022 and a legitimate candidate to crack their roster last year. He struggled to take advantage of the latter opportunity, posting a 7.04 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts before being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the season.
Through three starts this spring, Rodriguez has a 3.68 ERA across 7 1/3 innings after pitching into the fourth in the Orioles’ 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. More important to the right-hander than the pitching line, however, has been fine-tuning his pitch mix and incorporating his new two-seam fastball.
“Yeah, I think being able to work on different things like obviously the two-seam fastball,” Rodriguez said of what he’s been able to focus on instead of making the roster. “Last year, that’s something I wouldn’t have been able to work on. This year, getting to throw it a lot, really not worried about the results that it gets.”
Baltimore is expected to lean on Rodriguez as its No. 2 starter behind ace Corbin Burnes to begin the season with Kyle Bradish (UCL strain) and John Means (elbow discomfort) headed for the injured list. After getting off to a slow start in his first taste of the majors last year, Rodriguez went on a torrid stretch from mid-July through the end of the regular season in which he posted a 2.58 ERA over his final 13 starts.
Rodriguez set out to pitch four innings Friday and fell two outs short. He cruised through the first three frames before stumbling in the fourth, allowing hits against three of the first four Tigers, including a solo home run by catcher Jake Rogers.
“I really wish I could have gone four,” Rodriguez said. “It was my goal going into it but backspun the heater a lot better than I had this spring. So, pretty happy about that.”
Kjerstad’s bat shows life
A player who is still competing for a roster spot is outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who entered Friday’s game 4-for-22 this spring with zero extra-base hits. He broke through with a 2-for-3 night against the Tigers, highlighted by a leadoff double in the third inning against Detroit right-hander Casey Mize.
Kjerstad acknowledged that his swing is still a work in progress at this stage of the spring but added that he’s starting to feel more comfortable at the plate after his slow start.
“It’s probably not where I want it to be or whatever, but that’s part of spring,” Kjerstad said. “I’m getting dialed in, making a few adjustments, getting some at bats under my belt, getting comfortable again and been feeling good the last week and everything and trending in the direction I want to be going in.”
Kjerstad is in a spring training battle with fellow outfielders Colton Cowser, Kyle Stowers and Ryan McKenna, among others, for the right to travel with the team north when it breaks for the start of the regular season. The 2020 No. 2 overall draft pick was a favorite to do so entering spring after he impressed in spurts during his first stint in the majors last season.
However, Kjerstad’s slow start coupled with Cowser jumping out of the gate hot (.400/.550/1.000 slash line in 20 plate appearances) and Stowers (.263/.300/.737 in 20 PAs) showing progress against left-handed pitching has left the competition wide-open. Cowser and Stowers also have defensive versatility on their side; Kjerstad is still working to improve his play in the corner outfield spots.
“They’ve told me, ‘We know you can swing the bat,’ everything like that, but they want to see me be a really great defender,” Kjerstad said. “It’s been fun for me to be able to work with [first base coach Anthony] Sanders out there. He’s been great for me to be able to teach me some things to make me a better defender and, also, I’m starting to enjoy the process out there. Just trying to be a great defender and help the team out just as much on offense as I do defense.”
Around the horn
• Never in his 14-year professional baseball career dating to his Single-A debut in 2011 had Kolten Wong played third base in a game, but that’s exactly where manager Brandin Hyde penciled him in the lineup Friday. Hyde played him there to see if Wong could be an option as a utility infielder. The veteran has played most of his career at second base but has experience at shortstop and in the outfield as well.
• Orioles setup man Yennier Cano made his second appearance of the spring Friday, hitting a batter but otherwise working a clean frame. Cano was eased into camp this year after throwing a career-high 72 2/3 innings in 2023, when he made the All-Star Game and posted a 2.11 ERA.
• Baltimore’s announced attendance at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday was 7,709, their third sellout of the spring joining opening day Feb. 24 and March 2 vs. the New York Yankees. Among those at the game were Orioles principal owner John Angelos and incoming owner David Rubenstein, the latter of whom walked the concourse several times greeting fans. On Friday, MLB’s ownership committee unanimously approved the sale of a controlling stake in the Orioles to Rubenstein but the deal still needs to be approved by the league’s owners.
• Hyde spoke Friday morning on his plans for first base this season, saying that Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn will be “getting a ton of at-bats.” While not committing to a strict lefty/right platoon, Hyde did say some playing time decisions would be “matchup based” and noted O’Hearn would see some time in the outfield.
Grapefruit League
Orioles at Braves
Saturday, 1:05 p.m.
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM