Grayson Rodriguez’s once-promising 2025 season is now officially over—and it never even got started. The 25-year-old right-hander will undergo season-ending elbow surgery next week. The Baltimore Orioles officially announced it, adding another rather frustrating chapter to his career.

See, Rodriguez had been working his way back from a flurry of injuries. From the right lat strain that ended his 2024 season to now. Things didn’t get better this spring either, as an elbow inflammation sidelined him from even starting this year.

His rehab outing in April, too, was scrapped after he strained the same lat again. And just when it looked like maybe…just maybe he would make a return, the right elbow shut him down for the entire season now.

And Grayson Rodriguez didn’t sugarcoat; in fact, he admitted to the reporters that this had been building for a while. “It could be a lot worse. That’s kind of how I’ve been looking at it.” Then he added the most worrying section—he has been pitching with bone chips in his elbow for three to four seasons, and it’s got him to a point where he simply can’t push through the pain and the dangers of putting recovery off for too long.

He will undergo elbow surgery, not Tommy John, and if all goes well, the hope is that he will be ready for the next spring training. But that’s a huge “if,” right? He is a player who has not taken the mound in the majors since July 2024—it’s been more than a freaking year. And it’s honestly a gut punch for the Baltimore Orioles, as they miss his presence at the top of their rotation.

After his breakout season, where he went 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and struck out 10 per nine innings, the expectations for him were high. But instead, injuries have been more of a reality. Plus, Baltimore has struggled to find a rhythm with its starters. Sure, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano have been okay, but the rest, even veterans, haven’t been their best.

The Orioles hit reset, but a burning question remains.

There is no doubt that the Baltimore Orioles didn’t just make moves at the trade deadline—they made a statement. Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, Ramon Laureano, and Charlie Morton are even gone. Shipped. Fifteen prospects have come back in return, and with that, the Orioles are quietly also closing that curtain on any hopes of contending this season.

Now, the front office didn’t say it directly, but fans can hear it—it’s time to look at 2026 and forget this year. But the next question is, where is Dylan Beavers? If there was ever a time for the outfielder to get that call, it seems like it’s now. In 306 at-bats this season, he has slashed .307/.421/.520 with a .941 OPS. Plus, his 16 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases are proof that he checks the box of what any team wants from their outfield player. Plus, there is no logjam anymore, either.

Mullins and Laureano are out of the picture, so there is an opportunity and no scope for excuses to see what the Beavers can do at the big league level. However, when asked, GM Mike Elias was pretty cautious, saying that Beavers is having a terrific season. And that a taste of MLB action would be a good thing for all parties. But he did add that they are still hoping to do a few other things first, and then this.

For sure, Orioles fans will be up and awake for this answer. Because if the Orioles need an answer, it starts with the letter “B” for now, at least. Baltimore’s future may just depend on it.