Orioles Not Including Top Pitching Prospect on Opening Day Roster?

Rodriguez is the organization's No. 2 overall prospect behind Gunnar Henderson, but he is the top pitching prospect. Drafted in 2018, Rodriguez was taken No. 11 in the draft out of high school.

He started 14 games last year at AAA Norfolk, going 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 69.1 innings.

It's a virtual lock that we'll see Rodriguez at the Major League level this season, and he could be a big contributor if the Orioles are able to build off their surprise 83-win season from a year ago.

From the MLB.com prospects page: "Rodriguez has an outstanding four-pitch mix with the chance to have at least three plus pitches in his repertoire. His high-spin fastball touches triple digits, can sit easily in the mid-to-upper 90s deep into starts, and he throws the pitch with plus life. He might have the best changeup in the Minors, a mid-80s off-speed pitch that he tunnels well off his fastball to create deception and hard, late life. He misses bats with his mid-80s slider, and even his fourth pitch, a tighter low-80s curve, has improved."

The Orioles are opting to go with a likely rotation of Cole Irvin, Kyle Gibson, Tyler Wells, Dean Kremer and Kyle Bradish.

Longtime rotation stalwart John Means is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery and could make a return later this season, but he won't have the impact that Rodriguez has the potential to make.

The Orioles open up the season on Thursday at 2:10 against the Sox.