Many fans in Birdland have been questioning GM Mike Elias’ handling of the pitching staff this offseason.
After failing to re-sign Corbin Burnes, the O’s top starter in 2024, with a four-year, $180 million offer, the Orioles signed 35-year-old Nippon Professional League starter Tomoyuki Sugano and veteran journeyman, 41-year-old Charlie Morton.
While Sugano was a pleasant surprise earlier, he has quieted down a lot since his first couple of months. On the other hand, Morton went from looking like a total bust to being one of Baltimore’s best pitchers in the month of June.
With Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer as the other mainstays in the rotation, Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers and others have filled in or been a part of the rotation throughout the season.
That leaves many in Birdland pondering the future and expectant returns of a trio of right-handers in Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells.
When healthy, those three could make up the first three spots of a rotation on just about any team. Of course, not one has pitched this season, and last season saw the three combine for 31 starts (Rodriguez (20), Bradish (8) and Wells (3)).
So, where does this leave the Orioles going forward, as all three are expected back around August of this season?
First off, the three of them returning anywhere around the trade deadline is just as good as acquiring three fresh starters, something this O’s staff could really benefit from late in the year.
Secondly, with the Orioles currently 10 games under .500 and six games back in the AL Wild Card race, Rodriguez, Bradish and Wells could become key contributors and factors as the Orioles look to make a historic push to a postseason berth.
So, where are each of these guys in their recovery, as both Birdland and Mike Elias all hope to have them back sooner rather than later?
Let’s take a look and see where the O’s three-headed monster is at this time and when they might be expected to return this season.
GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ
Rodriguez was expected to be a significant piece of the Orioles’ rotation this season. In 2024, he pitched to a 3.86 ERA over 20 starts, completing 116.2 innings with 140 strikeouts.
Rodriguez was expected to take a big step forward in 2025, but like the previous three seasons, injuries have derailed the promise that the 6-foot-5 right-hander possesses.
First, an elbow issue delayed Rodriguez’s start to the season. Then, a lat strain caused him to pause his throwing progression.
What’s interesting about that is Rodriguez changed his wind-up to alleviate and take pressure off his lat, only to hurt his elbow. When progressing through his elbow injury, it forced him back to his old wind-up.
“Just focusing on the lat and kind of figuring out what might be causing it, whether it’s mechanical or something we’re doing in the weight room or something prep-wise,” Rodriguez would say. “Right now, just trying to figure out exactly what’s causing it.”
Rodriguez has compiled a 20-8 record across 43 games, all starts, with a 4.11 ERA. He has pitched 238.2 innings while striking out 259 batters, and the Orioles have gone 28-15 when Rodriguez takes the mound.
Rodriguez has been throwing numerous flat ground sessions and is expected to pitch off a mound within the next week if all goes accordingly to plan.
KYLE BRADISH
Bradish was originally part of a trade that netted prized pitching prospect Kyle Brnovich, another talented righty in the Birds’ system. Yet it was Bradish who progressed and found himself in the big leagues, making his debut in 2022.
Bradish would grow as a pitcher that season, going 4-7 through 23 games, all starts. He followed that campaign by cementing himself as the true ace of the O’s staff in 2023.
Bradish would make 30 starts, allowing three runs or less in 26 of them and going 12-7 for the season. Along with Rodriguez, the Orioles were looking like they had an established one-two punch to build a rotation around.
The unthinkable happened last January when it was reported that Bradish had discomfort in his throwing arm. It was announced as a UCL injury, but not one as severe as closer Félix Bautista‘s, as a platelet-rich plasma injection would be able to assist in the recovery.
Bradish would return, but it would only be for an eight-game stretch. The Orioles would be 6-2 in those games, and Bradish allowed more than two runs in only one game.
The crafty righty would require Tommy John Surgery and would miss the rest of 2024 and the first half of 2025 recovering.
The good news is that Bradish is recovering well. He recently threw a 35-pitch bullpen session and will face live hitting towards the end of June or the beginning of July. He is on track to make his season debut by August.
TYLER WELLS
Wells has been a breath of fresh air for the Orioles since his arrival in 2020.
From a strong force in the bullpen to a reliable starter in the rotation, Wells has been a consistent force when healthy and available. Unfortunately, Wells has made five separate stints to the injured list since joining the Orioles.
When healthy, Wells has pitched 294.2 innings between the bullpen and rotation, combining to go 16-18 with two holds and five saves in 95 games (46 starts). He has compiled a 4.08 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP while holding opponents to a .212/.267/.407/.674 slash line and a .230 BABIP.
Wells has been effective wherever needed for the Orioles and could bring stability to the O’s staff. The Birds only got three games out of Wells last season before he was shut down and required to get UCL surgery, not Tommy John, but more a clean-up and repair of the previous Tommy John operation he received in 2019.
Wells threw off a mound towards the end of April and recently had a 25-pitch bullpen session, throwing both fastballs and changeups. He will mix in curveballs during his next session and is on pace to return in August.
Rodriguez, Bradish and Wells have all been significant to the Orioles’ success coming out of the rebuild, and if history shows one thing, it’s that they would provide a much-needed boost and positive return in helping the O’s make a postseason push this season.
If they return even for the last couple of months, their abilities could be the difference between how this season ends and how the offseason is approached.
While Bradish and Rodriguez could form the front of a rotation, Wells could easily slot in as the third or fourth guy or become a swing man and help in the bullpen.
While Elias may be banking on the upside of this three-headed monster’s return, Birdland is collectively holding its breath with skepticism, hoping at least one of them will provide that boost to push the club forward.
What are your thoughts on the possible returns of these three pitchers? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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