Rodriguez and Rutschman Receive Post-Season Awards

Bowie, Md: It's award season in Minor League Baseball and the Baysox had many contenders for post-season awards in the Double-A Northeast League during the 2021 season. Today, Minor League Baseball has announced the award winners for the league, including two members of the Baysox.

Grayson Rodriguez was named as the Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Year and top Right-Handed Starting Pitcher following his stellar season with the Baysox. Rodriguez compiled a 6-1 record, pitching in 18 games following a mid-season promotion to Double-A after starting the season with a 3-0 record for High-A Aberdeen. Rodriguez posted a 2.60 ERA with 121 strikeouts in just 79.2 innings pitched while with Bowie. He held opponents to a .165 batting average, giving up just 47 hits while walking 22.

For his minor league career, Rodriguez is 19-7 with a 2.41 ERA in 52 games. He has held opposing hitters to a .172 average while striking out 310 in 216.1 innings pitched. Rodriguez ended the 2021 season as the #1 ranked pitching prospect in baseball and the Baltimore Orioles #2 ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

The number one prospect in baseball, Adley Rutschman, also received accolades in the post-season awards, being named as the Double-A Northeast League's top Catcher and Top MLB Prospect. Rutschman, the number one selection in the 2019 MLB Draft, began the 2021 season with the Baysox, playing in 80 games before being promoted to Triple-A Norfolk for the remainder of the season.

While with Bowie, Rutschman hit .271 with 18 home runs and 55 runs batted in. He compiled a .901 OPS along with 16 doubles and 55 walks. He played 53 games behind the plate with a .994 fielding percentage and also took the field at first base 20 times in Bowie with a .994 fielding percentage. In 2021, Rutschman hit .285 with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs across two levels of the Orioles system.

Both Rodriguez and Rutschman are poised to breakthrough to the Orioles Major League roster at some point during the 2022 season and it will be exciting to watch their progress and ascent into mainstays in Baltimore for many years to come.

Full list of Double-A Northeast League All-Star Team Members & Award Winners:

Position Name Team MLB Affiliate AA Stats (AVG/OBP/OPS, HR,RBI)

First Base Mason Martin Altoona Pittsburgh .242/.318/.799, 22 HR, 75 RBI

Second Base Oswaldo Cabrera Somerset New York (AL) .256/.311/.803, 24 HR, 78 RBI

Shortstop Oneil Cruz Altoona Pittsburgh .292/.346/.882, 12 HR, 40 RBI

Third Base Mark Vientos Binghamton New York (NL) .281/.346/.927, 22 HR, 59 RBI

Catcher Adley Rutschman Bowie Baltimore.271/.392/.901, 18 HR, 55 RBI

Outfield Riley Greene Erie Detroit .298/.381/.905, 16 HR, 54 RBI

Outfield Michael Beltre Somerset New York (AL) .256/.344/.814, 16 HR, 54 RBI

*Outfield *Jake Mangum Binghamton New York (NL).294/.342/.801, 7 HR, 41 RBI

Designated Hitter Josh Lester Erie Detroit .277/.338/.951, 25 HR, 65 RBI

Right-Handed Starter Grayson Rodriguez Bowie Baltimore 18 G, 6-1, 2.60 ERA, 121 SO

Left-Handed Starter Juan Hillman Akron Cleveland 21 G, 10-4, 3.77 ERA, 85 SO

Reliever Brian Marconi Reading Philadelphia 34 G, 1-2, 2.27 ERA, 15 SV

Manager of the Year Rouglas Odor Akron Cleveland 73-46, Best record in league

Most Valuable Player Oswaldo Cabrera Somerset New York (AL) .256/.311/.803, 24 HR, 78 RBI

Pitcher of the Year Grayson Rodriguez Bowie Baltimore 18 G, 6-1, 2.60 ERA, 121 SO

Top MLB Prospect Adley Rutschman Bowie Baltimore .271/.392/.901, 18 HR, 55 RBI