Starter Rodriguez, reliever Kittredge will open 2025 season on IL
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LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Orioles¡¯ starting rotation and bullpen will each be without a key member at the start of the 2025 season.
On Friday evening, manager Brandon Hyde announced that right-handers Grayson Rodriguez (right triceps/back of elbow) and Andrew Kittredge (left knee) will both be placed on the injured list to begin the year. Kittredge underwent left knee debridement in Baltimore and will miss multiple months.
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Rodriguez first reported soreness in his right triceps following his Grapefruit League start vs. the Twins in Fort Myers on Wednesday. After experiencing discomfort in the area near the back of his right elbow -- where there has been inflammation -- the 25-year-old right-hander got a cortisone shot and was shut down for 7-10 days.
Hyde is confident that Rodriguez¡¯s injury is not a ligament issue.
¡°Having some discomfort in the back of his elbow, so we are still getting multiple opinions. It¡¯s not a ligament issue, so we¡¯re not concerned about that. But it¡¯s going to result in some missed time,¡± Hyde said. ¡°We¡¯re getting the results, we¡¯re talking to multiple people about what the treatment, etc. is as of right now. The timeline, we¡¯re not sure on it. But it¡¯s not the ligament.¡±
Many are expecting Rodriguez to take a big step forward in 2025. The former top prospect and 2018 first-round Draft pick showed great development in ¡®24, when he recorded a 3.86 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings over 20 starts.
But Rodriguez also struggled to stay healthy last season. He had two stints on the IL -- one for right shoulder inflammation (April 30-May 18) and another for a right lat/teres strain (Aug. 7 through the end of the season). So Rodriguez¡¯s upcoming trip to the IL will be his third in less than a year.
There were concerning signs surrounding Rodriguez during his 33-pitch outing on Wednesday -- his second start of the spring -- during which his velocity was down considerably. He touched 95 mph only once, and he had a four-seam fastball register at 89.4 mph -- slower than every four-seamer he¡¯s thrown in his two-year MLB career.
Afterward, Rodriguez was asked if he was dealing with any physical or mechanical issues.
¡°Kind of felt like I was fighting myself today. Felt pretty sluggish. Yeah, kind of sluggish,¡± Rodriguez said. ¡°I just don¡¯t think I could really get behind the ball today and spin it how I wanted to. ... I don¡¯t really know if it¡¯s mechanical or not. I just know some days are harder than others.¡±
With Rodriguez heading to the IL, the final spot in Baltimore¡¯s rotation will go to either Albert Su¨¢rez or Cade Povich. Although Su¨¢rez has been a front-runner for a roster spot, it seemed he could be ticketed for a bullpen role. That could still be the case if Povich lands a starting job.
Orioles¡¯ projected Opening Day rotation
- RHP Zach Eflin
- RHP Charlie Morton
- RHP Dean Kremer
- RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
- RHP Albert Suárez or LHP Cade Povich
Right-handers Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery) and Tyler Wells (UCL revision surgery) will open the year on the IL. Left-hander Trevor Rogers (right knee subluxation) will not be ready for the start of the season, while righty Chayce McDermott (the O¡¯s No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline) is currently dealing with a mild lat/teres strain.
¡°That¡¯s why you have to have as much starting-pitching depth as possible. It¡¯s unfortunate with Grayson. We¡¯re hoping for the best. But like I¡¯ve said a lot, we¡¯re going to be needing more than five starters all year,¡± Hyde said. ¡°We¡¯re going to need guys to step up.¡±
There will now be a competition for a bullpen spot as well over the final two-plus weeks of Spring Training. Kittredge, 34, was expected to serve in a high-leverage role after signing a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $10 million that features a club option for 2026.
Kittredge began to feel soreness as he was warming up for his second Grapefruit League appearance last Saturday. He did not enter the game, instead getting treatment and resting for multiple days.
The O¡¯s will hope that Kittredge can be an impactful midseason addition to the bullpen.
It still remains possible that star shortstop Gunnar Henderson (mild right intercostal strain) could also open the 2025 season on the injured list. The 23-year-old is continuing to get treatment.