The Orioles are facing yet another setback in spring training, as their hope for a smooth, injury-free camp takes another hit. Before Wednesday’s game against the Pirates, manager Brandon Hyde announced a new concern—Grayson Rodriguez reported triceps soreness after his start the previous afternoon.
This is certainly not welcome news for the Orioles, but it’s also not entirely surprising given how Rodriguez performed in his last outing. Writers and observers noted a drop in velocity and struggles with command—often telltale signs that something wasn’t quite right physically. Now, it appears that triceps soreness may have been the underlying issue.
Triceps soreness is one of those concerning diagnoses that can sometimes escalate into something more serious—like an elbow ligament injury requiring surgery. While it’s too early to jump to worst-case scenarios, the uncertainty is unsettling. Just 48 hours ago, there was no reason to be more concerned about Rodriguez than any other pitcher. Now, that’s changed.
Rodriguez attempted to downplay concerns when speaking to the media, saying that he had intentionally held back on velocity and would soon be “letting it eat”—baseball slang for throwing at full effort. However, this doesn’t seem to align with what he privately told the Orioles.
Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that the team would know more about Rodriguez’s condition tomorrow, likely waiting on test results. When asked if he was concerned, Hyde admitted, “There’s always concern. I’m concerned every day right now with everybody.” A very relatable sentiment—though probably for different reasons than most fans.
The Orioles’ decision not to acquire a frontline starting pitcher this offseason suggested confidence in Rodriguez stepping into that role. If he’s dealing with a serious injury, that plan could unravel quickly.
Unless tomorrow’s update miraculously declares “No problem, everything’s fine, and he’ll make his next start as scheduled,”—which seems unlikely—this situation will impact Baltimore’s Opening Day rotation and potentially much more.
