Can Eduardo Rodriguez Put It All Together In 2019?

For years, the expectations surrounding Eduardo Rodriguez have always been high. The talent he possesses is unquestionable as teammates and coaches have constantly raved about his stuff. Up until 2018, the lefty had failed to meet expectations due to injuries and inconsistency, however. During the Boston Red Sox’s championship run, Rodriguez played a major role in stabilizing the back-end of the rotation. Assuming, Rodriguez can stay healthy, this upcoming season could be a big year for the Red Sox’s lefty.

In 2018, Rodriguez appeared in 27 games and had his most successful year in the majors. The lefty set career highs in wins with 13, surpassing his previous high of 10. Despite missing nearly two months due to an ankle sprain, he was still able to record a career-low ERA of 3.82. Due to the addition of the cutter, his strikeout rate increased to over 10 per nine innings. As a result, his fastball usage dropped, however, Rodriguez’s new approach has proved to be effective.

While Rodriguez had his best season to date, he was still frustrating at times during the championship run. He was unable to shake the injury bug and struggled upon his return from an ankle injury. In the playoffs, he had an ERA of 10.12 in seven appearances. Rodriguez’ postseason numbers are partially inflated as he only allowed runs in two of those seven appearances. Other than those two factors, E-Rod finally lived up to his potential.

Additionally, Rodriguez held batters to a .238 average and only allowed 16 home runs. This upcoming season, the Red Sox will be looking for the former top prospect to take another step forward. This will be essential as Chris Sale and Rick Porcello will reach free agency within the next two years. Rodriguez will get his chance to test free agency in 2022 as he still has two years left of arbitration. This upcoming season, however, has the chance to be his best.

Although the first official workouts for pitchers and catchers wasn’t until Wednesday, Rodriguez had already made his presence felt. According to manager Alex Cora, the lefty is in the best shape of his life. One reason for that is the fact that E-Rod has had a normal offseason. He has not had not to rehab from any injuries. Unlike last season, he can go through a normal Spring Training without any restrictions.

While these aspects are all positive signs, consistency will be key. Rodriguez has never made more than 24 starts in a season or thrown more than 137 innings. In order for him to reach his potential, he will have to stay healthy and avoid trips to the disabled list. If E-Rod can do that, then the Red Sox could have another ace in their rotation. Spring Training has only just begun, however, Rodriguez already looks primed to build on a career year.