Photo credit: Bill Vaughan
Cody Sedlock has a new perspective on his baseball career.
Sedlock was selected by the Orioles in the first round (No. 27 overall) of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He appeared to be on a fast track to the majors as the team’s No. 2 prospect but injuries and struggles hampered his progress.
Now, he is focused on the moment and being the best pitcher he can be at Double-A Bowie. He is not worried about when he might make his major-league debut.
“When I first got drafted, I thought about that stuff and when you’re looking too far ahead in the future, bad things start to happen and you start to forget about today,” Sedlock told BaltimoreBaseball.com. “Right now, I am just focusing on what I need to do to get ready for my next start. I am not worried about when I am going to be in Norfolk. I am not worried about when I am going to be in Baltimore. It will all come, and I just have to take it one day at a time.”
In 2017, Sedlock had injuries to his right elbow and forearm. He went 4-5 with 5.90 ERA in 90 innings for then-High-A Frederick. The following year, he had a shoulder strain and thoracic outlet syndrome — a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between the collarbone and the first rib are compressed — and went 0-3 with a 5.11 ERA in 37 innings.
“I’ve had kind of an up-and-down road since I was drafted,” said Sedlock, who finished the season ranked as the No. 25 Orioles prospect, according to Baseball America. “I came out hot out of the gate, but there were a lot of injuries and a lot of poor performance, stuff like that. It slowed me down, but it helped me to sit back and re-create myself as a pitcher. At this point, the biggest thing since I got drafted was just being able to throw any pitch in any count and have four or five weapons. In college, it was just fastball, slider.”
Sedlock, 26, bounced back in 2019, going 5-3 with 2.84 ERA in 22 appearances, including 16 starts, and 95 innings.
There was no minor league season in 2020 because of the pandemic, but the 6-foot-4 right-hander continued to work out in the Chicago area.
So far this season, Sedlock is 2-1 with a 3.83 for the Baysox in 12 outings, including seven starts, and 40 innings. Sedlock has shown solid command and has 42 strikeouts with 23 walks. He has allowed just three homers.
“I feel great physically right now,” Sedlock said. “My velocity is better than it’s ever been. I am recovering very well, probably the best I recovered in my career. It’s great to be able to pitch the next day and you’re still feeling good. I am able to get really good work in between my starts. That’s really how you build up a good season.”
Sedlock has been a starter throughout most of his career. However, he has pitched out of the bullpen with the minor-league affiliates, piggybacking their pitchers to get them enough innings. The versatility could bode well for his short-term trajectory.
“I think I can pitch in any role,” Sedlock said. “Right now, my eyes are set on being a starter. I believe that my future at the big-league level is to be a starter. What they’re doing right now, with all of the piggybacks and things like that, you’re still getting the workload of a starter.
“It has been a good experience to come in out of the bullpen and be able to get hot in the bullpen quickly and change up routines. You take away the aspect of starting where you know you are starting at this time, you know exactly when to start playing catch. It does make you bulletproof as a pitcher, being able to come in any role for the rest of your career.”
Sedlock does not have a timeline for when he will make his debut in Baltimore. He’s keeping things simple and focusing on the moment.
“The goal for me is to continue to work and attack hitters,” Sedlock said. “Just being as efficient as possible. I am trying to make sure I am getting my best pitches to my best locations and competing.”
Rodriguez shines: Grayson Rodriguez had a career-high 12 strikeouts in five innings in Bowie’s 6-2 victory over Erie on Sunday. Rodriguez, MLB’s top-ranked pitching prospect, gave up just two hits and allowed one walk. Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA.
Rodriguez was named the Orioles Jim Palmer Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Year with Mike Baumann in 2019 after finishing the season with Class-A Delmarva, going 10-4 with 2.68 ERA. The 6-foot-5, 21-year-old right-hander was also named the 2019 South Atlantic League Most Outstanding MLB Prospect.
Playoff-bound? The Delmarva Shorebirds are 39-25 and in position to make the playoffs at the midpoint of the season. The Shorebirds had three players — Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and TT Bowens — earn player of the week honors this year. Delmarva also had two eight-game winning streaks. The offense was second best in the league in the first half, averaging more than six runs per game, and the Shorebirds’ pitching staff had a league-best 3.50 ERA.
Kremer struggles: Dean Kremer allowed eight runs, five earned, on six hits with three home runs in 3 1/3 innings in Triple-A Norfolk’s 12-6 loss to the Memphis Redbirds on Sunday. Kremer (0-3, 7.20 ERA) struck out two batters and walked two. Kremer has started 12 games over two separate stints with Baltimore in 2021, posting an 0-7 record and a 7.25 ERA (40 earned runs, 49.2 innings pitched). His most recent major-league outing came in a start against the Blue Jays in Buffalo on June 24th, when he lasted just a third of an inning, allowing six runs on two hits, including a grand slam. He walked five and took the loss in a 10-7 setback.
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What else does Rodriguez have to prove to be called up. Will he start the season next year with the O’s??!
He has nothing to prove, just like Rutschman...go O’s...
Maybe that he can pitch and succeed at AAA level?
You got me, there's nobody on the ML club, well at least a semblance of a ML club, who is any better, except Means.
Too soon for Rodriguez. Kremer, WTF!!!
Kremer is gone, there is something drastically wrong with him!
Interesting article, hopefully working out in the Chicago area has more benefit for Sedlock than a barn in Michigan had for Akins...lol...go O’s...
That must have been quite a challenge working out in Chicago. I guess he had a "carry permit" along with friends with sawed off shotguns and AR-15s patrolling the perimeter.
I would guess he did a lot of running/cardio;)...go O’s...
Rule #1 cardio
Rule #2 the double tap
Solid writeup Todd. Seen you've been"moonlighting" on a Ravens site too. Busy man you are. Sounds like Sedlock has accepted his fate just hope he gets that break he needs. O's could use that break too. Rutschman/Rodriguez going through the motions(and impressive they are),hoping to stay injury free,and be ready for opening day 4/22 in Baltimore. What IS wrong with Kremer. He looked lost in Baltimore but he looks deplorable in Norfolk. Is it mental? Is it physical? Is it coaching/guidance in Norfolk? Could Bowie be next for him? How low can you go?
If it wasn’t for the throacic outlet surgery we might have seen Sedlock a few years ago. That can be a tough thing to come back from just Matt Harvey or Phil Hughes. At least he’s putting the work in unlike some pitchers we know. Could be a rare Duquette draft pick that works out. As far as Rodriguez why call him up? Everyone is clamoring to see him and the rest of our prospects. Just because he’s putting up good numbers does not mean he’s ready for the big leagues. Do you want him to turn out to be like Gausman and Arrieta? I’m sure Elias has a plan. Him and Matt blood probably want him to work on things that you don’t necessarily see with the eye test. Also your thirty some games under 500 why call these guys up and waste service time. All that’s going to do is waste the prime years of their career and when we’re good again they’ll be out the door.
True that..
Why try to win any games at all?
"when we’re good again they’ll be out the door." ? I guess you're ok with another 4 or 5 years of being baseball's doormat.
Uh yeah ... I'm sure Elias has a plan.
So you want to call them up while we thirty games out of first and thirty some games under five hundred? What does that accomplish nothing. Don’t blame Elias for this mess blame duquette for not developing any kind of talent to supplement the the roster with good veterans. The royals went out and signed Carlos Santana and other veterans guess what they still suck. Why spend money to try to win when that’s not a guarantee. It’s better to develop the prospects at the minors and lose then rush them up like we did for so many years. Fans are so desperate to win they say anything. Do you not remember how that it took us twenty years to win because we rushed guys to the majors. You want Rodriguez to be Brian Matusz.
I didn't mention a stinkin' thing about rushing Rodriguez or any other player for the matter. But rushing and holding back are 2 different things Don't put words in my mouth. Read what is said, and don't read between the lines.
All I did was comment on your comment of "wasting service time". That has nothing to do with 'rushing players'.
Holding players back has got to be one of the most bush-league strategy in baseball. It's all about the team keeping the player underpaid that extra year before free agency. If the player is ready, play them and worry about paying them when it's time. If you can't afford the price of doing business in MLB, get the hell out of Dodge.
And at least the Royals try. Things may not always work out, but they try. Wish I could say the same for our management.
So you think Adley and Rodriguez are ready for the majors right now? Hate to break it to you there not. And as far as holding them back for service time it makes sense wouldn’t you want to maximize the amount of time they can help you win. Rodriguez and Rutschman are not improving this team right now. Not with all the other holes on this team. And who and what would like the orioles to spend money on? Remember in eighteen when we tried to patch a mediocre team together with Cobb and Cashner. How’d that work out for us? Not to well if I remember correctly.
Where is the hell do you see me saying that I think Rodriquez needs to come up? I've never said that. Did I mention Rutschman? Uh no .....
I'm not going to argue with you when you obviously don't read what I've said. An open mind is a terrible thing to waste.
I agree, especially where you said if you can't afford to pay the price to do business in this business you need to get out. WTF is Elias doing with these "below slot" draft choices to get more choices later? Are you f##king kidding me. Pick the best player. Elias picks a player with a heart condition last year at #2 who was not considered worthy of that high a pick. He's gone, you call that rebuilding. Elias does not impress me and if he is making decisions based on saving money he needs to quit and Angelos needs to sell this club.
@Baltcf3 its pretty unfair to roast Elias for Kjerstad having a heart condition. Nobody knew about this, and it wasn't learned until later. And this year's draft was considered by most to be a crapshoot at the top (no clear top guys), so going underslot early to overslot later makes sense. Colton Cowser could end up one of the best from this draft, he clearly is one of the very highest rated bats. So lets circle back in 3 years and re-evaluate.
Don't think he could possibly be that bad!
And Santana can play several musical instruments.
Agree Boog, there is/has been zero effort into winning any games at the major league level since Mikey took over, apparently some fans don’t care, I’m sure he has a plan, as did the captain of the Titanic...go O’s...
No Matusz, what if he turned out to be Dwight Golden or Valenzuela? You only find out by playing them...go O’s...
He wasn’t going to be that because we rushed him to the big leagues. He could’ve been a solid starting pitcher but no we rushed him when we were in a similar situation as now.
Gosh, you’re right, my bad, why make it look like they’re trying to win games today...go O’s...
Who would’ve you liked for Elias to this past offseason? You wanted Elias to sign springer or a top tier free agent pitcher? What’s he supposed to do he was left with a roster that was stripped of talent due to the orioles doing the same thing your advocating for. Which is spending money when your not going to win. Remember when they tried to patch the rotation with Cobb and Cashner. How about the year when they signed Gallardo? That’s only going to set the orioles back when none of those contracts work out and you have to eat money to get them off the books. Like we had to with Cobb and O’Day.
I would have loved Elias to have signed Springer. And a top tier free agent pitcher? Does a bear crap in the woods? Heck yes, I'd love to have signed a top end pitcher ...but why stop there.... how about 2?
How much would that have improved this team? Not very much. You don’t have a third baseman. You don’t have a second baseman. Now Urias might be that when Galvis comes back. Let’s say we signed taujuan Walker he wouldn’t have improved our rotation when you still have mediocrity behind means.
So you're saying to prefer completely sucking to mediocre. Makes sense.
This is what pisses me off more than anything. After the '14 season Duquette and Angelos decided not to sign pitcher Andrew Miller for about 35 m, Markakus and Nelson Cruz for about 40 and 45 m respectively. That's less than Davis got. They would have been in the fold for 4 years. Did anyone follow how well they did. Cruz is still at it. All I can remember is Duquette saying, " we don't sign snyone for more than 3". That was the beginning of this calamity.
Orioles20 - You're absolutely right! Also, the signing of Springer and a top tier pitcher would have cost the Orioles their very high draft picks in the draft also. Something else to consider! And you're right - not the right time! When the Orioles have the 30th pick in the first round draft would be the right time, not now. And another thing, these players signing big contracts want to win right away not 2 - 3 years from now. No way they sign here!
Trying to win, or looking like you’re trying doesn’t require high price FA, he could’ve easily given the appearance of trying to win by having his best players in Baltimore, that is exactly what I’m saying, really don’t care if you agree or not, but you currently have 6-7 in the minors BETTER than guys in Baltimore, they play then it looks like you’re trying to win, isn’t that why they play the games?...lol...go O’s...
Just because you’re performing in the minors doesn’t mean you should be promoted. How many times has this organization called guys up the moment they performed well in the minors only to suck in the majors. And no free agents would help this team. Let’s assume they signed a few mid tier free agents. Would the be able to compete with the Red Sox or the blue jays or the rays to when the division or the athletics. I think not. Just because we swept the Astros means nothing a bad clock is right twice a day.
God forbid promoting players that are perfoming in the minors. That's crazy talk.
Gooden started his first MLB game at 19, that’s what I was referring to...go O’s...
Ok but he’s outlier. By the logic let’s call up Henderson because Tatis was twenty when he made his debut.
All I said was you don’t know until you try, obviously you disagree, that’s ok, we agree to disagree, but that would’ve cost the O’s minimal with a huge payoff if he was Gooden-like, if he failed, he’s young send him back down, then Mikey has shown he was trying & it didn’t cost outlandish FA $...go O’s...
But doing that could kill his confidence. Look at Kremer.
Also agree with your statement to bring up Henderson, at this point bring up your best players...go O’s...
Or he could be like Gooden & be the man...go O’s...
Spirited debate. Been enjoying the back and forth.
Top tier free agent pitcher?
C’mon, really? That’s absurd, at least for the next 2-3 years like it or not. Even overpaying (which is mandatory of course) what “top tier free agent” is coming here to stare up at all the other clubs in the standings, get no media coverage, and languish in bathetic obscurity?
I know they want the cash and all, but “top tier free agents” want that affirmation, that spotlight, that promise of winning in the short term.
Can anyone really pitch besides Means, Rodriguez and Hall in this organization? Cant wait for Rodriguez and Hall to get called up one day. Then maybe we will actually trade or sign some real free agent pitchers, since nobody else appears to want to be a major league pitcher.
So we hold guys in double a to wait till next year, when they won’t get called up till June when we will be out of first by 15 games. Bring them up now, see what they got and maybe just maybe build a team around them this winter. Omg maybe a few not so bad free agents
Can’t do that BB, that sounds like it makes sense...lmao...go O’s...
The Bee gets an A plus.
Boog, I think you said something quite awhile back about people not being able to see sarcasm in texts, I understand now...go O’s...
You can always dumb down your sarcasm with a winkie face. ;)
Don’t disagree with CP.
He was a college coach, ya know.
Haters gonna hate, obviously you can’t see the sarcasm in that statement...don’t care anymore...you can’t have a difference of opinion without negative comments, go O’s & take Nellie with you...
"So far this season, Sedlock is 2-1 with a 3.83 for the Baysox in 12 outings, including seven starts, and 40 innings. Sedlock has shown solid command and has 42 strikeouts with 23 walks." 5.2 walks per 9 innings and 1.83 SO/W ratio is showing solid command?
Haters gonna hate? Negative comments? CP! Stop with the self-analysis! Stop looking in the mirror while posting! You're hysterical today, thanks for the good laughs...
Oh My ... Where do you come up with these quips? That mirror comment .... I can't stop laughing!
Allow me to retort ...
I'm rubber you're glue ... what you say bounces off me and sticks on you! Oh wait ... I've got a better one ...."You're so funny I forgot to laugh!"
GUFFAW Chortl snort
CP is in good CP form today...don't disagree with CP lol
Oh yes ....that's even funnier than the last gem. LOL
So we call them up and they don’t do well…hmmm let’s send them back down to the minors…oh that’s right we can’t because that would be messing with their psyche, the same way we did with Gausman and company…leave them in the minors to work on all aspects of their game, they will be ready soon enough…and believe it or not, “Mikey” and company do have a plan…it just doesn’t change game to game
And after 5 to 7 years from the outset of that plan, the O's might be competitive. I do have to admit though,it just might be a solid plan. In the mean time, I hope the O's players enjoy playing in from of 6 to 7,000 fans per night.
If you collate the voluminous advice to bring up the prospects now with the equally voluminous advice to let them work on their game in the minors a bit longer, the net result is uncertainty and inconclusiveness.
:)...well said...go O’s...
WV, a verisimilitudinous if not sesquipedalian assessment.
Dang, gotta go to Webster’s now...go O’s...;)
What means "collate" ?
But if you followed the bring 'em up advice, that would be conclusive ... no?
BRR, 'Collate': roughly analogous to 'conflate' in this context.
Yes, bringing the kids up to the Bigs right now would be a "conclusive" action. It also could be a very bad option. Or it could prove to be a good option. Or maybe neutral. Or perhaps positive for some prospects, but career-damaging for others. Or maybe the results would be so unclear that fans would disagree on its net effects. On the other hand, other things being equal...oh, never mind.
WV ....you're obviously more than a well educated man. I'd guess maybe PHd'ish ...possibly a teacher or educator of some sort...I'm often impressed by your well thought out posts, they almost always make sense and make me think, and seriously question my own words and reactions to others. I truly admire what you have to say most times.
However .... surely you're quick enough to rarely, if ever, take me seriously?
BTW.....I always thought collate was something a printer did to a ream of paper. :)
BRR, Thank you for the very kind words. Much appreciated. You nailed it--I am a retired university professor. At the risk of boring you, I left Baltimore a long time ago to go off to college. Never had any desire to return, but I carried two fond memories with me. One, the Colts, who would go on to crush me. Two, the Orioles, who may be headed in the same direction. I don't take myself seriously, but I am deeply angered by the team's malaise. Can't figure out whether it's management being tightfisted, Elias not giving a damn about the product on the field, management maneuvering to sell the team, or some combination.
By the way, I take you at least semi-seriously. There is always wisdom conflated in your roguish comments. There, we are even on the compliment front.
Congrats WV on the college route, appreciate your knowledge of the O’s & your sense of humor, hopefully you won’t get roasted as I did for your tie to the collegial field...go O’s...
Only if you received the vacine.
What?...go O’s...
Look you need to bring a class of players up not one or two but 4 or 5 ready to play minor leaguers . When the o’s got good on the early 60’s like 63,64,65,66 that’s what they did guys like Powell, Blair , Johnson , Belfry pitchers like Pappas , Phoebus , Palmer that’s 7 good or great players not 1 or 2 that’s a poor waste of talent money and other resources . Look if you silly enough to bring up a Rutchman and a Rodriguez at this stage or even next year then your silly enough to pee down your leg and call it rain .
Call sedlock up to AAA
O's knew nothing about Kjerstads myocarditis illness ....That is a side effect sometimes after catching Covid-19..not really a heart problem and most if not all do recover completely ...................