AL DIVISION SERIES: RANGERS VS ORIOLES

October 7, 2023

Grayson Rodriguez

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore Orioles

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. When you look back at your first start against Texas, where have you grown since then?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: You know, that feels like it was a year ago, honestly. But, you know, just kind of learning how to be a pitcher in the big leagues, how to go about each and every day, I think is the big thing.

Q. Those first ten starts of the season and going down to the minors, you talked about your fastball command, what did you learn about yourself?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: I think the big thing was how I handled a little bit of adversity. Obviously not performing how I wanted to that first half. Being able to go back down and kind of straighten things up and come back and be more of the pitcher I could be.

Q. Did you talk to some of the other pitchers going through similar experiences, and also if you did, can you talk about what they said?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: Kyle Gibson was a guy I leaned on. He's been around quite some time. He's got ten years, and just being able to ask him all different kind of questions really helped me out a lot.

Q. Your first start in the big leagues against the Texas Rangers, the first playoff start against the Texas Rangers, how do you look back growing up and watching these good Texas Ranger teams and having a chance to face them here?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: Watched them a lot as a kid, a lot of Rangers and Astros games. Just being able to face a team like that is pretty special to me. It's something I've been dreaming of for a while.

Q. I just wonder how you've seen Adley develop as a catcher and what he's kind of done to evolve to the Big League level?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, that's obviously a very tough position to play every day. I think he's handled it and then some. Seeing him, how he calls the games, I think that reflects on him. The pitching staff has had some good success and he's been back there behind the ditch.

Q. You've played a lot of close games, has it made you more battle tested?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, I think so. You know, I think that series against Tampa really put us off on the right foot for the postseason, being able to play some close games like that with the crowd and atmosphere and everything, I think it's definitely gotten us prepared for this moment.

Q. What has Justin Ramsey meant to your career, you were with him in the minors, and particularly when you went back, what has he meant to your career?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: He's meant a lot to my whole career. First met him in 2019, I was 19 years old. So, you know, the development part of my career all goes to him. I mean, you know, there's nobody that I'd rather have in the Minor Leagues coming up through the system as my pitching coach. He definitely helped me get to this point.

Q. I imagine in your first Big League start no matter how you prepare, might be easy to get star struck by the names in the lineup. How have you progressed in the years since and where is your confidence at and do you feel sort of on an even plane with the guys you pitch against now?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, it feels like normal baseball to me. Seeing other names in the lineup, it's pretty exciting to see big names. There's something about it that makes it a lot of fun to go out and pitch to a really good lineup like those guys have, and really excited to see what I can do tomorrow.

Q. When you say you've learned what it means to be a Big League pitcher, how much is execution?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: I thinks it's a good bit of both. Being able to show up to the ballpark every day with a fresh mind, be able to go out and pitch, be physically ready. It's a good mixture of both. But mentally being able to go out and attack the strike zone.

Q. Just mentally what was it like to go through the season and how do you feel now looking back on the last six months?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: Looking back on it I've learned a lot. Just having to deal with the adversity, really the first time I've run into something like that. Just being able to go down and get things straightened up and come back and just kind of be the pitcher that I know I am.

Q. When you talk about getting straightened out, when you came back up here, you were a different pitcher almost right away. If you had to tie it to something that changed during that time you were down, what would you point to?

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ: I think it would be fastball command. I think that's the big thing. Getting strike 1 is the most important thing. Being able to go in or out on these hitters. I think the velo doesn't matter to the Big League hitters, I can pretty much hit a hundred pretty easily. So the command is the big thing and that's what I learned.