Boston Red Sox 2017 Player Previews: Eduardo Rodriguez

Eduardo Rodriguez is undeniably one of the most talented pitching prospects the Boston Red Sox have had in years, but has not yet put it all together.

At nearly 24 years old, the Boston Red Sox are not expecting Eduardo Rodriguez to dominate the game of baseball. When he was acquired from Baltimore in 2014, the team was simply excited by the potential that the young Venezuelan had stored in his left arm. In 2015, Rodriguez made his major league debut and delivered on some of the promise that was seen in him.

Rodriguez went 10-6 with a 3.85 ERA in 21 starts during his rookie season. After his third start, he had a 0.44 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 20.2 innings. Rodriguez went through rough patches, like any rookie pitcher in the most offensively talented division in baseball would. He had starts in which he allowed nine, six, seven, and eight runs, but never gave up more than three earned in any other start.

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Rodriguez’s struggles came from tipping his pitches. Over time, it became clear which pitch he would be throwing just based on the placement of his hands or the way he turned his body. The problems were addressed (though it is difficult to completely change a person’s habits), but a bigger issue developed over the course of the season: Rodriguez had bad knees.

While many expected him to take a large step forward in 2016, Rodriguez’s knees held him back. Rodriguez was held off the major league roster going into the season and missed time in Pawtucket as well thanks to pain in his right knee. He made his first start on May 31st and allowed two runs over six innings in a win, but did not look like the same promising pitcher as the season went on.

By the end of June, Rodriguez’s ERA was at 8.59 and he had struck out the same amount of batters that he had in the first three starts of his rookie year. Rodriguez finished the season at 307 with a 4.71 ERA, though his strikeout numbers did eventually normalize.

He finished with 100 strikeouts in 20 starts, compared to 98 in 21 starts the previous season. Rodriguez’s final three starts of the season finally made him look like the electric pitcher the Red Sox were expecting. He struck out a total of 29 batters and allowed six runs in two Red Sox victories and a loss. He did not appear in the playoffs, but these were encouraging signs.

Mar 17, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (52) against the Houston Astros at JetBlue Park. The Astros won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Rodriguez’s for the upcoming season was up in the air coming into Spring Training. The mid-2016 addition of Drew Pomeranz, plus the trade for Chris Sale meant the Red Sox would have six worthy starters to choose from. Rodriguez also tweaked his knee in Winter Ball, though he appears to avoided any major concerns regarding that. With the injury to David Price and Pomeranz on injury watch as well, Rodriguez should avoid having to start the season in Pawtucket. Barring any of his own health issues, he will likely slot in as the number three starter behind Rick Porcello and Sale.

Rodriguez has an opportunity to finally prove that he is what the Red Sox thought he was. If he can perform better than Pomeranz or Steven Wright while Price is out, he should have the inside track at staying in the rotation. Otherwise, he is in danger of becoming the next Clay Buchholz: a dominant pitcher at times who just cannot stay healthy enough to develop any consistency.

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Rodriguez has more talent than Buchholz ever did, so as long as his knees hold up and he continues to throw with high velocity, he should end up as the fourth starter in one of the most talented rotations in baseball.

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