Paco Rodriguez Explained

Paco Rodriguez
Position:Relief pitcher
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Birth Date:April 16, 1991
Birth Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 9
Debutyear:2012
Debutteam:Los Angeles Dodgers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 29
Finalyear:2015
Finalteam:Los Angeles Dodgers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:4–5
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:2.53
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:91
Teams:

Steven Francis "Paco" Rodríguez (born April 16, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Prior to playing professionally, Rodriguez attended the University of Florida, where he played college baseball for the Florida Gators. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2012 to 2015.

Amateur career

Rodriguez is of Cuban descent. His parents met and married in Spain after defecting from their home country separately. They then moved to the Dominican Republic, Canada, and New Jersey before living in the Miami, Florida area, where their son was born on April 16, 1991.[1] Rodriguez has an older sister and a younger sister who graduated from Brown University. He attended Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida,[2] where he was named to Class 3A All-State and the Miami Herald All-Dade Team.[3] The Houston Astros selected Rodriguez in the 48th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft after his high school graduation, but he did not sign.

Rodriguez enrolled at the University of Florida, in order to play college baseball for the Florida Gators baseball team in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For the Gators, Rodriguez served as the team's closer.[4] His career earned run average (ERA) at Florida (2.19) in 86 appearances is the lowest since the introduction of aluminum bats in 1974. He was an All-SEC selection in 2012.[5] Rodriguez helped lead the Gators to the College World Series in three consecutive years.

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Rodriguez in the second round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. Draft experts suggested that he would be one of the first players from the draft to reach the majors.[6] After signing with the Dodgers, he was assigned to the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League.[7] After six appearances with the Loons, he was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League,[8] where he pitched in 15 games with a 1.32 ERA.

The Dodgers promoted Rodriguez to the major leagues on September 5, 2012,[9] and became the first 2012 draftee to reach the majors.[10] He made his debut in a game on September 9 against the San Francisco Giants and retired the one batter he faced.[11] He appeared in 11 games for the Dodgers in 2012, as a left-handed specialist, and allowed only one run to score in 6.2 innings.[12]

Rodriguez started the 2013 season on the Dodgers' major league roster. After a rocky April, he became a trusted member of the Dodgers' bullpen, though he faltered in September and October under the heavy workload of an MLB season. From May through August, his ERA was 1.31 in 52 appearances. His season totals were a record of 3-4 with a 2.32 ERA in 76 games.[13]

Rodriguez spent most of 2014 with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes, but had four separate brief stints with the Dodgers.[14] In July, Rodriguez strained an upper back muscle.[15] In 32 games with the Isotopes, he was 2–3 with a 4.40 ERA and in 19 games for the Dodgers, he was 1–0 with a 3.86 ERA.[16]

In May 2015, Rodriguez was added to the disabled list and underwent a bone spur removal surgery in July.[17]

Atlanta Braves

On July 30, 2015, in a three-team trade, the Atlanta Braves acquired Rodriguez, Héctor Olivera, minor league pitcher Zachary Bird, and a competitive balance draft pick for the 2016 MLB Draft, while the Dodgers acquired Mat Latos, Michael Morse, Bronson Arroyo, Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, Luis Avilán, and José Peraza, and the Miami Marlins acquired minor league pitchers Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham, and Kevin Guzman.[18] Though he was expected to recover sufficiently from multiple injuries by September and make his first appearances for the Braves, Rodriguez did not pitch at the major league level for the rest of the 2015 season, and underwent Tommy John surgery in September.[17] On December 2, 2016, Rodriguez and the Braves avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $637,500 contract for the 2017 season.[19] Rodriguez was released from his contract with the Braves on March 28, 2017.

Baltimore Orioles

On July 10, 2017, Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He made 9 appearances for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Orioles, registering a 7.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 12.0 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[20]

Minnesota Twins

Rodriguez signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2018 season. After one appearance for the Skeeters he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.[21] He was released by the organization on August 2, 2018.

Sugar Land Skeeters

On August 10, 2018, Rodriguez re-signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

San Diego Padres

On February 18, 2019, Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization.[22] In 28 games split between the Double–A Amarillo Sod Poodles and Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas, he compiled a 4–1 record and 3.35 ERA with 43 strikeouts across innings pitched. Rodriguez elected free agency following the season on November 4.[23]

Pitching style

Rodriguez has an unusual and deceptive delivery in which, from the batter's perspective, he hides the ball behind his head before slinging it towards the plate.[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: Saxon. Mark. Paco Rodriguez and Yasiel Puig on fast tracks. February 15, 2016. ESPN.com. April 10, 2013.
  2. Web site: Gulliver student-athletes are college-bound . Nl.newsbank.com . January 15, 2009 . September 5, 2012.
  3. Web site: Pair Of Drafted Gator Baseball Players To Return . WCTV . August 18, 2009 . September 5, 2012.
  4. Web site: No 1 Florida has sights set on NCAA title this season . USA Today . February 16, 2012 . September 5, 2012.
  5. Web site: UF Baseball's Steven Rodriguez Signs With Los Angeles Dodgers . Gatorzone.com . July 5, 2012 . September 5, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016181010/http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=23409 . October 16, 2012 . dead .
  6. Web site: Path to Majors could be short for Rodriguez . MLB.com . June 19, 2012 . September 5, 2012.
  7. Web site: Hugh. Bernreuter . Los Angeles Dodgers assign second-round pick Steven Rodriguez to Great Lakes Loons roster . Booth Newspapers . July 7, 2012. September 5, 2012.
  8. News: Bernreuter. Hugh. Los Angeles Dodgers promote former Great Lakes Loons reliever Steven Rodriguez. February 15, 2016. Booth Newspapers. September 6, 2012.
  9. Web site: Dilbeck . Steve. Chad Billingsley's season ends; just-drafted Steven Rodriguez up . Los Angeles Times . September 5, 2012. September 5, 2012.
  10. Web site: Angert . Alex. Lefty Rodriguez is first 2012 draftee to reach bigs . MLB.com . September 5, 2012 . September 5, 2012.
  11. Web site: Hernandez . Dylan. Dodgers' Matt Kemp, who has hurt shoulder, aims to return Tuesday . Los Angeles Times . September 10, 2012 . September 10, 2012.
  12. News: Dilbeck. Steve. Daily Dodger in Review: The early promise of Paco Rodriguez. February 15, 2016. Los Angeles Times. October 28, 2012.
  13. News: Dilbeck. Steve. Daily Dodger in Review: Paco Rodriguez is brilliant until overuse. https://archive.today/20160417123329/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/26/sports/la-sp-dn-daily-paco-rodriguez-20131126. dead. April 17, 2016. February 15, 2016. Los Angeles Times. November 26, 2013.
  14. Web site: Paco Rodriguez 2014 Minor League Gamelogs & Splits - Baseball-Reference.com. Baseball-Reference.com. July 30, 2015.
  15. Web site: Dodgers looking hard for another lefty. ESPN.com. September 13, 2014. July 30, 2015.
  16. News: Dilbeck. Steve. Daily Dodger in Review: Paco Rodriguez takes a step back. February 15, 2016. Los Angeles Times. January 11, 2015.
  17. News: Bowman. Mark. Tommy John surgery for Braves' Rodriguez. October 3, 2015. MLB.com. October 2, 2015.
  18. Web site: Dodgers get pitchers Mat Latos, Alex Wood in three-team deadline deal. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. J.P.. Hoornstra. July 30, 2015. July 30, 2015.
  19. News: Bowman. Mark. Braves agree to deals with Recker, Rodriguez. December 3, 2016. MLB.com. December 2, 2016.
  20. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2017. June 20, 2023. baseballamerica.com. en.
  21. Web site: Twins Reportedly Sign Paco Rodriguez to Minors Deal.
  22. Web site: Minor League Transactions: Feb 16 - Feb 22. Baseball America. Matt. Eddy. February 26, 2019. March 6, 2019.
  23. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2019. Matt Eddy. Baseball America. November 7, 2019. November 7, 2019.
  24. Dylan Hernandez, Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez continues to impress, Los Angeles Times, Published August 26, 2013, Retrieved November 27, 2013.