Eduardo Rodriguez – A Man to Watch

A few weeks ago, the Red Sox rotation appeared set. However, cracks are beginning to show. In a 14-5 loss on March 15, projected starters Justin Masterson and Wade Miley were hit hard. Masterson was touched for 7 hits and 6 runs in 3 2/3, while Miley surrendered 6 hits and 4 runs in 4 innings.

Both Masterson and Miley have 6-plus ERA’s this spring. Joe Kelly’s is over 11 and he has a sore arm. Even with Clay Buchholz and Rick Porcello having good springs, the feeling is that the Sox may have “a bunch of 3rd and 4th starters”. I don’t think Cole Hamels in coming. One and possibly two starting spots may be open.

One youngster who seems destined to get a good look from the Sox is Eduardo Rodriguez. A 21-year-old lefty from Venezuela, Rodriguez was acquired from the Orioles last July in the Andrew Miller deal. He was signed at age 16, and three years later saw his first major league spring training. After a setback in the first half of 2014, he blossomed in the Sox organization under the tutelage of pitching coach Bob Kipper. Between Portland and Pawtucket, E-Rod (as he already is being called) showed a 1.41 ERA with 12 walks and 51 strikeouts in 8 starts.

Rodriguez can throw hard, being clocked from 93 to 97. He also has an effective changeup and slider. In his final start of 2014 in the Governor’s Cup final, PawSox manager Kevin Boles  commented to weei.com‘s Alex Speier : “He has stuff that can possibly dominate a lineup a few times through….His velocity and the life out of his hand with his fastball, it’s explosive….But what I love about him is the way he competes.” Boles continued: “I saw him last year when he was with Baltimore. It was just raw stuff. There wasn’t much pitchability when I saw him. Now the pitchability is starting to match the stuff.”

Despite his age, Rodriguez already has 5 years of minor league ball under his belt, all as a starter. Twice he fanned over 100 batters, and his overall ERA is a sparkling 3.26.

So far in spring training, he is at 1.17 with 9 strikeouts in 3 relief appearences. It is only a small sample, but it rates near the top of the Boston pitching roster. Though it is unlikely that Rodriguez will start the season in the rotation, the Sox would do well to watch him, especially if the starters continue to falter.