Why Angels Fans Should Trust Perry: Grayson Rodriguez Looks Like an Ace
November 28, 2025 - Written by Jas Singh
RHP Grayson Rodriguez in his Orioles career:
— Charm City Connection (@88OriolesFan88) November 19, 2025
2 seasons
20-8 record
238.2 IP
4.11 ERA
1.29 WHIP
259 SO
Thanks for everything, G-Rod 🧡🫡 pic.twitter.com/XttxBj4On5
The offseason is finally upon us, and I am glad to continue writing for this wonderful page while following our Halos. Like last year, the Angels immediately made a significant impact with a minor trade that could have giant gratifications for both teams. Jacob Firmage had an exhilarating piece detailing this trade and its impact for both teams. The trade sent fan favorite outfielder Taylor Ward to Baltimore in return for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. My initial thoughts immediately turned to General Manager Perry Minasian. The fanbase, including myself, has been critical of GM Perry Minasian for not making significant moves and failing to pick a side this deadline. However, it’s really not Perry’s fault; he has his hands tied in terms of spending power and ability to move guys due to one of the worst ownerships in pro sports. Despite all the challenges, Minasian has successfully executed a trade that secures a potential ace with several years of control.
The first thought that comes to mind when you hear Grayson Rodriguez is that he is injury-plagued, especially since he missed the entire 2025 season. But, as of right now, everything pointing towards his health is trending upwards. The bone spurs are completely gone, and he is set to go through the bullpen soon, while being inherently ready for spring training come March. Furthermore, unlike several young pitchers, Rodriguez has completely avoided Tommy John or any huge shoulder problems, which is usually significant to power arms like him. Pitchers with size are highly valued in modern baseball, and Grayson has that to a tee. With a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame, we can see velocity maintained deeper into games and an ability to handle longer outings over the course of the season. Now in 2025, we saw the Angels have a wonderful one-two punch of Yusei Kikuchi and José Soriano. Kikuchi was an all-star but struggled pitching past the 5th inning, while Soriano struggled mightily at home. By incorporating Rodriguez into the starting rotation, we may finally have the dependable ace to lead this group.
Rodriguez has extreme variety in his pitch arsenal that truly checks every box for a modern frontline starter. His most-used pitch is his upper-90s fastball, which has extreme amounts of carry and stays consistent deep into his starts. The heater regularly sits at 97-99 mph and will carry to the top of the zone, causing batters to miss even when they know it's coming. Only a few young pitchers in today’s game can kill lineups with just one pitch, like Grayson can. His difference-making pitch is an A-plus changeup that frequently produces swings and misses. The pitch will tumble late and mimic his fastball’s arm speed, making it lethal against lefties. With two high-powered pitches, he keeps hitters fooled with a powerful curve that consistently messes up hitters' timing. Then he caps it off with a sharp slider he uses in early pitch counts. Even when not generating a swing and miss, the slider automatically generates weak contact even if a batter somehow catches it. Rodriguez has the kind of pitch mix that allows him to get outs even on days when he’s not at his best—something only true aces can do.
One thing that catches my eye about Rodriguez is that, yes he is only 26 but has enough major league experience to come in and dominate. He has already experienced a true MLB workload, unlike many young pitchers who are limited to short stints in the majors or forced into bullpen roles. This experience will allow him to step right into an Opening Day start and carry 150-180 innings in 2026. Additionally, he can avoid the growing pains that many pitchers experience when thrown into multiple innings too quickly, unlike many young starters. Confidence is extremely valuable as a pitcher in the majors, and I have no doubt this staff will back Rodriguez into being the leader of this group.
Another part of Grayson's truly rising ace potential is playing in a division like the AL West, which features several lineups that struggle with high-velocity fastballs and changeups. Lineups like Seattle and Oakland specifically are among the highest chase-rate offenses in the majors. This is ideal for a pitcher with Rodriguez’s movement profile and pitch arsenal. Additionally, Rodriguez's speed and movement are well-suited to counter Houston's contact-heavy style. Rodriguez matches the division perfectly in terms of pitch qualities. We constantly see modern pitching development trends where elite arms come together at the ages of 25 and 26. For example, Gerrit Cole took the jump at 25, Corbin Burnes at 25, Zac Gallen at 25–26, and Spencer Strider at 24. Rodriguez fits perfectly in this window and he’s clearly past his prospect phase. His late-season adjustments suggest he’s on the verge of his breakout, not past it.
Grayson Rodriguez is the perfect pitcher for the Angels because he has a unique mix of great stuff, youth, durability, and an upward trajectory. His arsenal already mirrors that of established frontline starters, and his rapid mid-season adjustments prove he has both the talent and the mentality to continue improving. A strong, robust body and a clean medical background make it evident what the future ace will look like. Rodriguez wouldn't simply fill a job for the Angels, who really need a rotation leader. He might change the way the organization pitches for years to come. If he gets the chance and the help he needs, he has everything he needs to become the long-term ace that Anaheim has been looking for.
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