11 Things To Know About Eduardo Rodriguez
BOSTON (CBS) -- Eduardo Rodriguez will make his Major League debut for the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, as the team opens a four-game series against the Texas Rangers.
There are some high hopes for the 22-year-old Rodriguez, who could be an integral part of the Boston rotation in the very near future. It's unclear how much of his success in the minors will translate to the big leagues, and at the moment, it's unclear how long he'll stick around during this stint.
John Farrell said the plan is for Rodriguez to make one start, giving the Boston rotation a little rest with the team in the middle of a 20-games-in-20-nights stretch, but what if the prospect pitches really, really well?
"Well then, maybe we'll really, really reconsider," Farrell responded when asked.
Here is what we do know about Rodriguez ahead of his Major League debut:
- A natural righty, Rodriguez began to throw left-handed at the age of seven when he broke his arm. He throws a fastball, changeup and slider.
- He was signed as an international free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in January 2010, and received a $175,000 signing bonus.
- Rodriguez made his professional debut in 2010 in the Dominican Summer League at the age of 17, going 3-4 with a 2.33 ERA in 12 starts.
- He spent the following season in the Gulf Coast League and Brooklyn-Penn League, going 1-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) while striking out 50 batters in 48.2 innings pitched.
- As a 19-year-old in the Single-A South Atlantic League, Rodriguez went 5-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 22 starts.
- Appeared in the first Futures Game for Baltimore during the 2013 All-Star break, retiring all three batters he faced.
- Rodriguez was promoted to Double-A Bowie in 2013, posting a 4-3 record and 4.22 ERA in 11 starts. He started 2014 in Double-A despite struggling in the Arizona Fall League to close his 2013 season (0-1, 5.52 ERA in five games), and his struggles continued. He was just 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 starts for Bowie before being traded to Boston.
- Baltimore GM Dan Duquette reluctantly traded Rodriguez to Boston at the 2014 trade deadline for lefty reliever Andrew Miller.
- Rodriguez made six starts for Double-A Portland after joining the Red Sox organization in 2014, going 3-1 with a 0.96 ERA, 39 strikeouts and eight walks in 37.1 innings pitched.
- He made a start for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox during their International League playoff series against the Durham Bulls. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs off six hits while striking out six in Pawtucket's 4-2 extra innings victory.
- Rodriguez was ranked the No. 59 prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the 2015 season.
