Former top MLB prospect Grayson Rodriguez has never been a soft-tossing finesse project. The whole package, dating back to prospect hype when in the Baltimore Orioles system and his early big-league flashes, was power stuff, swing-and-miss, and a fastball that could live in the upper-90s when he needed it. That’s the book and the identity. It is what made him so often discussed as one of the league’s next best and brightest on the mound. So when the radar gun starts whispering instead of shouting, people notice, and they should, leading to concerns being raiders about the most recent outing from Rodriguez.

MORE: Top 5 catchers in MLB heading into the season

Grayson’s latest outing:

Feb 24, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (21) reacts in the dugout with his team after being relieved in the second inning against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

In his most recent spring outing, multiple tracking outlets noted Rodriguez’s fastball sitting around 94 mph, with one report pegging his fastball velocity at 94.3 mph across the start. That’s not a small dip. That’s a different tier of pitcher – especially for someone whose value is tied to overpowering hitters, not outsmarting them.

Now, yes – spring training can be weird. Guys build up, throttle down, experiment, chase command, and sometimes treat the gun like it’s optional. There’s also the context that Rodriguez has been working back from injury into full form, which matters. But here’s the issue – this isn’t just one low reading. The conversation around him right now is that he’s living in the mid-90s, not flirting with 97-99.

Why the velocity dip is a problem:

Feb 24, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (21) on the mound to pitch in the first inning inning against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

And when you’re built like a power arm, the trickle-down impact is brutal. If the heater isn’t forcing late swings, the secondaries play down. Hitters don’t have to cheat. They don’t have to panic. They can spit on borderline pitches, force you to live inside the zone, and wait for a mistake that doesn’t have 98 to hide it.

This doesn’t mean he’s cooked. It means he just has to be that much better everywhere else. Rodriguez can still be there if the command is sharp and the sequencing is clean. But he’s no longer getting free outs just by showing up with gas. If the Angels were counting on him to be a rotation stabilizer with top-end ceiling, they need answers. And right now.

Sure, spring is for tweaking. But velocity is the one thing you don’t just shrug off when it’s who you are.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

MARCH MADNESS: 6 March Madness Cinderellas, bracket-busters poised to destroy the field

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Latest Mason Miller update could force Team USA to choose new WBC closer

BRACKETOLOGY: Kalshi reveals $1 billion prize for March Madness perfect bracket

NFL: Tom Brady’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic taps popular FOX broadcast duo

NBA:Board of Governors holding vote to explore adding two expansion teams
ENTERTAINMENT: Look inside the Oscars $350,000 gift bags for 2026 Academy Awards