Will Grayson Rodriguez be an Orioles ace? | MAILBAG

Question: When Grayson Rodriguez is healthy, he’s looked both hot and cold, but it seems he’s always injured. Do the Orioles still have high hopes for him becoming a top-notch pitcher?  From: Dominic Tibaldo

Answer: Dom, the Orioles absolutely have hopes that Rodriguez will become a staff leader, but this is his third time on the injured list in the last two seasons. Last season in 20 starts, Rodriguez was 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings and just under three walks. Those are excellent stats and that’s why the Orioles still maintain he’ll be a  ace.

Question: Zach Fruit got shots to pitch and threw three scoreless innings in a Grapefruit League game. Levi Wells threw a pitch over 100 mph. Luis De Leon looked good in a few innings when he pitched. Are there others? Do you expect any of these to be in Bowie this season? Next to Ed Smith, it’s my favorite place to watch our prospects. From: Bill Connor

Answer: Bill, De Leon, Fruit and Wells each pitched at High-A Aberdeen, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them on the Chesapeake roster when it’s revealed next week. Bowie was renamed over the offseason.

I enjoyed watching them pitch earlier this month, and there’s another interesting name, left-hander Riley Cooper, who completed the no-hitter last Saturday. I don’t think Cooper will begin the season at Aberdeen, but perhaps you’ll see him with the Baysox later in the year.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.