Eduardo Rodriguez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #4 prospect in 2015
  If Rodriguez were judged based solely on his first six weeks in the Sox organization after being traded by the Orioles in exchange for Andrew Miller, he likely would have ranked as the top prospect in the system. Among the Sox's cluster of upper levels starting prospects, Rodriguez is the one with clear top-of-the-rotation stuff. Rodriguez sits at 92-94 mph but regularly touched 96 and 97 in his outings with the Red Sox. He complements that with a killer changeup that he sells well'some evaluators thought it was superior to Owens' -- and a slider that sometimes grades as slightly below-average but shows the potential to be average or slightly above. Once with the Sox, he started using his changeup to lefties and attacking the inside of the plate to excellent effect. He shows impressive athleticism and a repeatable delivery. Rodriguez's explosive fastball and changeup after joining the Sox both graded as plus offerings. If his slider develops to at least average, his potential is immense. "That kid can be Johan Santana Part 2," one evaluator said. "If his breaking ball improves one tick, he's going to be outstanding." He should start 2015 in Triple-A, but if he pitches as he did in Portland, a mid-year move to the big leagues wouldn't be surprising.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #3 prospect in 2014
  The Orioles signed Rodriguez for $175,000 as a 17-year-old, and they invited him to big league spring training in 2013 and he jumped on the fast track, finishing the year with three scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League championship game. Rodriguez works off a fastball with natural cut to the glove side. He pitches mostly at 92-93 mph, touching 95, and showed the ability to work to both sides of the plate. His slider is his best secondary pitch and has made nice gains in the last year. So too has his changeup, which he even threw to some lefthanded hitters. He still has some issues repeating his delivery, but he made improvement there while showing durability in a long season. Rodriguez is close to big league ready and ought to begin 2014 in the Double-A Bowie rotation and finish at Triple-A Norfolk--or possibly Baltimore. He has a No. 3 starter ceiling, with a chance to become an Orioles rarity as a player signed by the organization from Venezuela.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #5 prospect in 2013
  Signed for $175,000 out of Venezuela, Rodriguez was one of few international splashes made by the Andy MacPhail regime. After making his U.S. debut in 2011, Rodriguez was Baltimore's most improved prospect in 2012. He more than held his own as a 19-year-old in low Class A while doubling his innings total. Previously known as a command-and-feel lefty with a funky delivery, Rodriguez has developed into a different animal as he continues growing into his lanky frame. His tailing fastball now sits at 90-94 mph, and the ball comes out of his hand well. His secondary pitches are inconsistent but have shown improvement. Both his 80-84 mph slider and 82-84 mph changeup flash plus potential, with the slider more advanced at this stage. He'll have at least average command. The Orioles have helped Rodriguez overhaul his delivery and get more on line toward the plate without robbing him of deception. He has benefited from committing to a consistent between-starts routine. With Bundy and Gausman possibly graduating to the big leagues in 2013, Rodriguez could rank as the organization's top pitching prospect a year from now. He likely will open the season in high Class A. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter, though some suggest he has an even higher ceiling.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #30 prospect in 2012
  Former president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail wasn't able to turn around the major league club, but he did at least try to make Baltimore more active in the international market. The Orioles still remain among the game's lowest spenders internationally, unwilling to shell out big bonuses, so the signing of Rodriguez for $175,000 before the 2010 season qualified as a big splash for them. He pitched well in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, then built on that last year with a 1.81 ERA that would have ranked second in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League had he not just missed qualifying. Rodriguez is a command-and-feel lefty, usually pitching in the high 80s and occasionally dialing his fastball up to 93 mph. His fastball has good life and sink. He has a slurvy breaking ball and an average changeup that needs to get more consistent. While Rodriguez has some polish, he's still working out the kinks in his complementary pitches and polishing his command, so his GCL stardom was a surprise to Baltimore. He earned a shot at the Delmarva rotation in 2012 and profiles as a No. 4 or 5 starter.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2015
  Rodriguez completed his dash to the big leagues just 10 months after arriving from the Orioles in a trade and, after overwhelming IL hitters with a power three-pitch mix, yielded one run in his first 14 2/3 innings with the Red Sox. Key to his rise to the majors was the development of his slider, which is now a tight-breaking pitch that gives him a third pitch to go with his fastball-changeup combo. Rodriguez's command of a mid-90s fastball that he can locate to both sides of the plate has also been a key. And he complements it with a changeup that became particularly effective as he focused on not overthrowing it.
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  Ranked Eastern League #7 prospect in 2014
  For the second time in as many years, Rodriguez finds himself ranked among the best in the EL. And with the exception of his parent organization, little has changed. The Orioles dealt him to the Red Sox for reliever Andrew Miller at the trade deadline. Rodriguez missed about a month early in the season with a hip injury, but when he came back he showed off the same stuff he did last year as a 20-year-old making his high-minors debut. A lean lefthander with a strong midsection, Rodriguez brings his fastball, which features excellent plane in on righthanders, up to 96 mph and couples it with a mid-80s slider with excellent tilt. He also has a changeup, which he throws at the same velocity as his slider and with the same arm speed as his fastball but is still a third pitch at this point. Rodriguez does have a tendency to get a little bit quick with his delivery, which causes him to lose the strike zone. Those problems dissipated once he moved to Portland, where his walk rate dipped from 3.2 per nine to 1.9 over 37 innings.
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  Ranked Eastern League #9 prospect in 2013
  Rodriguez arrived in the EL in July and finished strong, allowing only one run in his final four starts, spanning 25 innings. His loose arm produces three average pitches that have a chance to be plus going forward. His fastball, which one scout projected as plus-plus in the future, sits in the low 90s and touches 94 mph with both sink and tailing action. Rodriguez also features a tight, low-80s slider that features quick tilt at the end. His changeup features fade and drop and grades as above-average in the future, though now he occasionally slows his arm speed when throwing it. Rodriguez also has a curveball that he can bury with two strikes, but it lags behind his other three offerings. Rodriguez can become inconsistent with his arm slot and sometimes leaves his heater up in the zone. Those are just minor dings, however, and scouts project him as a mid-rotation starter at least, if not a No. 2 as he makes improvements.
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  Ranked Carolina League #8 prospect in 2013
  Rodriguez spent much of his time in Frederick working to perfect his changeup, and the results showed on the field. He compiled a 1.80 ERA in 35 innings over his final seven CL starts before leaving for Double-A on July 2. The development of the changeup gives Rodriguez two plus offerings and creates a nasty combination with his 90-94 mph fastball that keeps hitters off-balance. When at his best, he works down in the zone with his fastball, which features arm-side run away from the barrel of righthanders. Likewise, the changeup dives away to his arm side. Rodriguez will throw the changeup in any count with similar arm speed to his fastball, and it has become his top secondary pitch. He abandoned a fringy curveball in favor of an average slider that gives hitters a different look. ?For him to be effective, he has to throw his changeup a lot,? Frederick?s Minor said. ?He did a real good job not to give in to his fastball during hitters counts.?
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #18 prospect in 2011
  The Orioles paid Rodriguez $175,000 to sign before the 2010 season, and he rewarded them with an encouraging pro debut in the DSL. He pitched well again in his first stint U.S. stint, posting a 1.81 ERA that would have ranked second in GCL if he hadn't barely missed qualifying. Rodriguez doesn't have top-end stuff, but he has an advanced feel for pitching for his age and could profile as a back-of-the-rotation starter. He throws strikes with an 88-91 mph fastball that features good sink and tail and peaks at 93. He has a solid breaking ball that's effective when he throws it to the back foot of righthanders, and he'll flash an average changeup.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #59 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #65 prospect in 2014

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed for $175,000 out of Venezuela, Rodriguez was one of few international splashes made by the Andy MacPhail regime. After making his U.S. debut in 2011, Rodriguez was Baltimore's most improved prospect in 2012. He more than held his own as a 19-year-old in low Class A while doubling his innings total. Scouting Report: Previously known as a command-and-feel lefty with a funky delivery, Rodriguez has developed into a different animal as he continues growing into his lanky frame. His tailing fastball now sits at 90-94 mph, and the ball comes out of his hand well. His secondary pitches are inconsistent but have shown improvement. Both his 80-84 mph slider and 82-84 mph changeup flash plus potential, with the slider more advanced at this stage. He'll have at least average command. The Orioles have helped Rodriguez overhaul his delivery and get more on line toward the plate without robbing him of deception. He has benefited from committing to a consistent between-starts routine. The Future: With Bundy and Gausman possibly graduating to the big leagues in 2013, Rodriguez could rank as the organization's top pitching prospect a year from now. He likely will open the season in high Class A. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter, though some suggest he has an even higher ceiling.