Grayson works through trouble for career-high 8 K's

CHICAGO -- General manager Mike Elias wasn’t expecting Grayson Rodriguez to start the season down at Triple-A Norfolk. But after a rough Spring Training, the right-hander had things to work on.

Rodriguez eventually got the call up to the Majors on April 5, but his first two starts didn’t go to plan. Then, in his third career start, the rookie had to wait out a 2-hour and 22-minute delay in 43-degree weather.

But Rodriguez settled in nicely in the Orioles’ 8-4 comeback win against the White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field -- despite a rough first inning.

“I’m so happy with how he settled in,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Giving up four [runs] in the first, it could have really unraveled on him.”

It hasn't been all smooth for the Orioles' No. 1 prospect in his first couple of starts. He battled through his first career start in his home state of Texas, then pitched in front of home fans for the first time. And in his third start, Rodriguez had to battle through cold, rainy conditions.

In the first inning, he hung a 78 mph breaking ball down the middle to Gavin Sheets for a three-run homer, and Jake Burger took him deep on a 97 mph fastball. Rodriguez allowed four runs on three hits and two walks in the opening frame.

“I don’t think anybody likes it when it’s cold and rainy,” Rodriguez said. “But just kind of getting used to it after the first inning, it really wasn’t that bad. I was able to block it all out.”

But as the game went on, Rodriguez started to show why he’s baseball's No. 5 overall prospect. After a first-inning walk to White Sox right fielder Oscar Colás, Rodriguez retired 13 of the next 16 batters he faced before exiting after five innings.

“Starting the game off [with] a little better pace is something that we’re going to work on before the next start,” Rodriguez said. “We’re going to prepare a little bit differently. Ultimately eliminating that [first] inning [struggle].”

In his five-inning start, Rodriguez allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. He gave up just three singles after the first inning -- two of which were infield hits.

“I think he wasn’t really sharp early, honestly,” Hyde said. “This is his third start in the big leagues -- tough conditions today for everyone, and not the easiest day to pitch. It was cold and wet, but I thought he did a great job battling and competing after that first inning.”

“It was huge,” Cedric Mullins added after his 3-for-5, four-RBI day at the plate. “I think the offense being able to back him up right there with runs made him even more comfortable going into the deeper innings. He looked really good out there.”

Rodriguez struggled to get through the top of Chicago's lineup the first time around, but he breezed through it the second time by relying on his changeup. It resulted in a lot of off-balance swings and strikeouts for the O’s hurler.

“I faced him a couple of times down in Norfolk in Triple-A,” Burger said. “He’s a great pitcher. He’s got really good stuff, young guy. So, I think he started mixing a lot better. Some days you don’t have it in the first inning, and you come back and figure it out.”

The changeup was Rodriguez’s most effective pitch on Sunday, resulting in six strikeouts and eight whiffs on 27 pitches. It’s also a pitch that Rodriguez worked on all winter, and even into this season.

“In some past outings and in Spring Training, we’ve seen [it], it’s a plus pitch,” Hyde said. “ I think he just needs really good command of it.”

Rodriguez placed an extra emphasis on his changeup leading up to this start. If he can find his rhythm with the pitch -- like he did in the Minors -- he will be a major factor for the O’s rotation this season.

“The changeup is something that helps me out a lot,” Rodriguez said. “That was the first time that I felt like I had it this year. This week during the bullpen and catch-play, it’s something we really focused on, to get back to how I was throwing it in 2019, 2021 and last year. So, it was big for me to get that confidence back.”