Latest Grayson Rodriguez injury update is disappointing news for Orioles

It looks like the Orioles finally have a bit of clarity on Grayson Rodriguez's status and while it could be worse, it's certainly tough news to get. It's being reported that Rodriguez has yet another lat/teres tear and by all accounts won't return until at least mid-summer.

Earlier this week, it had been reported that Rodriguez was seeking second opinions on what we were told was a shoulder injury. Any time the phrase "second opinion" gets tossed around, you start to get nervous about the potential for surgery. Apparently that won't be necessary in Rodriguez's case, but it's still difficult to see him dealing with the same injury for the third year running.

Rodriguez missed substantial time in 2023 with a lat strain and he wound up only pitching 122 innings that year. Again in 2024, Rodriguez suffered a lat strain just after the All Star break and he missed the final two months of the year. The righty hasn't pitched in a game since July of 2024.

Orioles right hander Grayson Rodriguez diagnosed with another lat strain

Coming into the year, Rodriguez looked to be clear of the shoulder and lat problems but a triceps issue cut his spring training short and he's been on the IL for the first month of 2025. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Rodriguez had to get scratched from a bullpen rehab session earlier this month, which is where the current lat strain stems from.

At this point, it's absolutely fair for fans to wonder if Rodriguez will ever amount to anything. It's not just a doomsday opinion because the team is struggling right now, either. Rodriguez has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season's workload and he's already 25. The most innings he's thrown in a season is 122, which he hit in 2023. He threw just 116.1 innings last year and it looks like he won't get close to that mark this year, given his current status.

There are countless pitching prospects who have failed because of injury, and that's normal. The frustrating part is that the Orioles' front office seemingly built the 2025 rotation around the expectation that Rodriguez would be the ace. If there was once a case to be made in that regard, it's getting exponentially more difficult to make it as time goes on.

Will Rodriguez ever find a way to stay healthy? For all of our sakes, we'll have to hope so. But if there's part of you that has a hard time believing that Rodriguez will be a critical part of the Orioles future, you're not alone.