Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BAL | RHP | 2 | 55 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 55/50 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Eric Garfield
Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Tall, long limbed righty. High torso. Athletic build still maturing. Effective weight added throughout pro career. Shoulders are broad, square. Chest is developed. Strong, athletic legs with room for more muscle near torso. Huge hands with long fingers. Straight, tall posture athletically on the mound. Competitive, commanding mound presence.
Delivery & Mechanics: High 3/4 almost over-the-top slot with moderate effort in the delivery. Short strider but decent extension and good arm speed. Limb length contributes to moving parts during delivery. Legs seem to hinge several times throughout motion. Hands held high, they're joined and torqued down then up together in the windup creating a hop effect into the motion. Pro career has included shaving rough edges off raw HS delivery while dominating hitters.
Fastball: Sits 93-97 t98; average velo 95 with explosive late life. Velocity has ticked up incrementally as a pro. Shows confidence throwing it in any count. Heavy bore low in the zone; decent run elsewhere; willing to elevate it to finish off hitters. Late explosion into the mitt increases a heavier feel. Places well on perimeter of zone; command average and improving. Grade: 60
Curveball: Sits 74-79. Inconsistent but improving. Shows desired velocity, tight rotation and 11/5 break at its best. Primarily a spike pitch buried low in the zone. Less optimal ineffective cement mixers and hangers occasionally come in around 74-76. Can be located well at times and end plenty of ABs. Will clean up with more success against advanced hitters. Flashes average enough to keep me optimistic. Grade: 50
Slider: Sits 84-88. Highly effective to RHB influencing weak contact, good K rates. Breaks tight and sharp; short with slight, floating motion like a cutter. Shows longer two-plane horizontal breaker with darting action at lower velo band. Developing pitch that's seen significant gains. Grade: 55
Changeup: Sits 78-82. Previously a low usage pitch that has now become a potential weapon. Significantly improved, the change is a byproduct of pro instruction and technology. Flat pitch that's firm with contrast movement; works well off the high spin heat. His ability to control, pull the string and influence tumble very high. If he's able to repeat fastball arm speed, and gain consistency the ceiling only increases. Grade: 55
Control and Command: Improving part of an ace repertoire, Grayson has showed both throughout his pro career. A stuff monster with a projectable frame, Rodriguez shows flashes of above-average control and solid average command. Control: 55 | Command: 50
Overall: Drafted as a prep arm, Rodriguez has already experienced massive physical gains, losing baby fat and maturing into a long, lean flamethrower. Tasting success at the lower levels wasn't enough as he added and then began to perfect and further develop his secondary offerings. Lots of hope and faith for the organization's pitching future hinges on Rodriguez rescuing expectations. Despite being aware of this, his attitude and focus are uncommonly forward focused. Frontline rotation upside, with realistic #3 SP future potential. The Orioles don't usually have prospects like this. I see innings, strikeouts and wins in his near future with no need to rush his already increasing progress.
OFP: 55
Role: 60 - #3 SP
Risk: High
