ANAHEIM, Calif. — Grayson Rodriguez was four months into a breakthrough season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 before injuries shut him down. They've kept the big right-hander off the major league mound ever since.

He's getting a fresh start next year following his trade to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, and Rodriguez is confident his injury problems aren't following him to the West Coast.

“Obviously I was shocked,” Rodriguez said Wednesday. “You don’t really ever expect to get traded. Kind of a whirlwind, but it’s actually super exciting.”

The 6-foot-5 Rodriguez, a former first-round pick with a 100-mph fastball, was 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts for a strong Orioles team in July 2024 until discomfort in his back muscles forced him to miss the rest of the season.

Rodr

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