During the offseason, the 24-year-old Rodriguez was celebrated as one of baseball's top pitching prospects, renowned for his robust, powerful throws and extensive pitching repertoire, suggesting he could be a star pitcher. However, his early-season performance was far from that, resembling more of a pitching machine you'd find in a batting cage, as he struggled with a disastrous 7.35 ERA in his initial 10 starts and the highest hard-hit rate in MLB. This prompted the Orioles, who were firmly in the AL East competition, to send their promising young pitcher to the minors to regain his form.

In late May, Rodriguez made his way back to Norfolk, understandably feeling frustrated. Triple-A isn't the ultimate goal for anyone, whether it's the minor league players striving for a chance, the former stars attempting a comeback, or the top prospects passing through on their way to more prominent stages. When the Orioles initially called up Rodriguez on April 5th, the former first-round draft pick probably never expected to return to Norfolk.

However, there he stood, no longer an Oriole but a member of the Norfolk Tides, confronting his limitations and making the essential changes. And indeed, he succeeded.

In the span of seven Triple-A starts, the 6-foot-5 Texan revitalized his confidence and recaptured his brilliance. Some minor mechanical tweaks led to a significant boost in both his fastball velocity and control. He also swapped out his frequently criticized cutter for more fastballs, changeups, and curves. These adjustments translated into improved performance, leading to Rodriguez's return to Baltimore immediately following the All-Star break.

Rodriguez has seen a significant improvement in his hard-hit rate, going from the lowest to comfortably above average. Additionally, his home runs allowed per nine innings, which posed a challenge for him in the first half of the season, have gone from being the third-worst in baseball to the third-best.

The Rays posed a significant threat to take control of the AL East division and the pennant race after winning the first two games of a four-game series in Baltimore, resulting in a tie between the division rivals for the first time in months. Despite the Rays having their ace, Tyler Glasnow, on the mound, the Orioles' lineup delivered a strong performance against him. Meanwhile, Rodriguez pitched eight innings without allowing any runs and recorded seven strikeouts, propelling his team back into the driver's seat in the AL East. This remarkable performance affirmed Rodriguez's resurgence and provided further evidence that the quiet Southerner could indeed evolve into the frontline presence that Baltimore had envisioned when they drafted him.

Following an exciting series split with the Rays, in which both teams secured playoff berths, the Orioles currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Rays with 12 games remaining. Additionally, Baltimore's 8-0 victory on Saturday provided them with the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over Tampa, essentially extending their lead by an extra game.

Grayson Rodriguez told reporters  "I feel like a completely different pitcher,"