Carlos Rodríguez made his MLB debut by tossing 3⅔ innings of seven-hit, two-run ball in Milwaukee’s 3-0 loss to the Bluejays Tuesday. The Nicaraguan born pitcher of Cuban descent also fanned four, while walking one and left a 4.91 after taking a loss in first start.
In the minors this season the pitcher has a 4-5 record, 5.17 earned run average and 66 strikeouts in 62⅔ innings pitched with the Nashville Sounds of the International League. Rodríguez also sports a nifty 1.29 WHIP on the campaign.
The hurler spoke to the colleague Melvin Lopez-Onna last week when he learned he was going to be called up to the big leagues and touched on array of topics. The right-hander became the 16th Nicaraguan to grace the grand stage.
Carlos, what happened a little while ago?
Well, I arrived at the field and the manager called me to the office and gave me the news that the big club is going to call me up . I’m leaving on Sunday, but I’ll start Tuesday’s game in the Major Leagues.
Do you have anything to say to the people of Nicaragua?
Yes, I want to send greetings to the people of Nicaragua. I thank you for all the support you have given me during my career and thank God there is another Nicaraguan in the Major Leagues.
You have family in Rivas and also in Miami, right?
Yes, I grew up in Miami and I already told my entire family in Rivas the news of being called up, and everyone is happy right now.
The season didn’t start well, but it turned around. Did you make any adjustments?
Well, I had to make a small adjustment with the mechanics. I had a problem which was that I wasn’t looking at the plate when I was throwing, but I also had to mentally toughen up because at the end of the day bad stretches are part of baseball. It is not true that you’ll be good your entire career , you have to work through those moments to become a better player. I was positive and worked hard with my coach and also spent time in the gym, so thank God I was able to get out of that funk.
They remember you in Puerto Rico as the 20-year-old pitcher who tossed some good innings against the powerful PR team in the WBC. Who do you recall from that outing and do you recall that lineup?
Yes of course. There was Meléndez, Javy Báez, Soto, Maldonado, Lindor, Rivera, Eddy Rosario, Kike Hernández and Vázquez.
How are you mentally preparing to join a team that is in the play-off race?
I’m going to take it like when I pitched in the Classic. At the end of the day the atmosphere like the WBC is a playoff atmosphere. As I have said before, when you pitch in a World Baseball Classic you are doing it for an entire country, and in the Major Leagues we are doing it for a city, it is a big difference. I can’t tell you which one is harder because I haven’t pitched in MLB yet, but I have heard many major leaguers saying that in the Classic there is more pressure. Right now I feel calm because I know I already had that experience.