NORFOLK, VA (WTKR)- There will be no shortage of top prospects when the Norfolk Tides take the field on Tuesday to begin the season.
Right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez headlines the players on the Tides' break-camp roster, released by the Orioles on Thursday. Rodriguez is ranked No. 6 on Major League Baseball's top prospect list and is the top pitcher among the rankings, according to MLB.com. He was the No. 11 selection in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft.
Five other prospects on the roster are among the Orioles' top 30. That group is led by outfielder Kyle Stowers (#8), infielder Terrin Vavra (#14) and left-handed pitcher Kevin Smith (#18). Jahmai Jones (#22), and infielder and outfielder Yusniel Díaz (#26) round out the group. Stowers, Smith, Jones and Díaz all saw time for the Tides in 2021, while Rodriguez and Vavra will make their Triple-A debuts upon taking the field for Norfolk.
Six players are on Baltimore’s 40-man roster: Vavra, Smith, Jones, Díaz, Rylan Bannon and Alexander Wells. Bannon and Wells both played for the Tides last season. Wells made his MLB debut on June 26 ,2021, while Bannon is still seeking his first MLB action.
Catcher Adley Rutschman, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball by MLB.com, is dealing with a triceps injury and could also join the Tides once healthy.
The roster is subject to change prior to Norfolk's opener on Tuesday against Charlotte.
Former Tide Buck Britton returns to the team in 2022, this time as the club's manager.
Norfolk will tune-up with an exhibition game against Norfolk State on Monday. First pitch is slated for 6:05 PM. Tuesday's season opener will get going at 6:35 PM.
Norfolk Tides break-camp roster:
Pitchers-
Diogenes Almengo
Kyle Brnovich
Marcos Diplan
Conner Greene
Ryan Hartman
Blaine Knight
David Lebron
Ofelky Peralta
Grayson Rodriguez
Cody Sedlock
Kevin Smith
Cole Uvila
Nick Vespi
Alex Wells
Catchers-
Brett Cumberland
Chris Hudgins
Infielders-
Rylan Bannon
Patrick Dorrian
Cadyn Grenier
Jahmai Jones
Mason McCoy
Terrin Vavra
Outfielders-
Yusniel Diaz
Robert Neustrom
Johnny Rizer
Kyle Stowers
