May 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) reacts during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Question: What happened to having or signing a clubhouse leader? So far, I see no one accepting that role. From: Sandra Freund
Answer: Sandy, first baseman Pete Alonso has stepped up as a clubhouse leader. So has starting pitcher Chris Bassitt. Neither was with the team last season.
Alonso has initiated mound visits and infield gatherings to talk strategy while Bassitt has called pitchers together, urging them to be more aggressive.
Clubhouse leadership doesn’t guarantee better results on the field and can’t prevent the large number of injuries they’ve sustained, but I think Alonso and Bassitt have been positives.
Question: How has Grayson Rodriguez done this year? Has he pitched at all for the Angels? From: John Kazlo
Answer: John, Grayson Rodriguez, who was traded for outfielder Taylor Ward, hasn’t pitched this season because of right shoulder inflammation. He pitched in his first rehab assignment on Sunday, so it still could be a few weeks until he pitches.
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.
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