Braves Lefty Paco Rodriguez Goes Under The Knife
By Fred Owens
Mar 27, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Paco Rodriguez(75) during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
According to Mark Bowman Braves lefty reliever Paco Rodriguez had TJ surgery last week and will miss the 2016 season. Rodriguez was part of the three team deal that also brought Hector Olivera and Zachary Bird to the Braves.
Paco Rodriguez
As I wrote when the trade was made, Rodriguez is a 24 year old lefty power reliever who was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Dodgers. Just 42 games into his minor league career he was a September call-up and performed well enough to start 2013 in the Dodger bullpen,
That season he made 75 appearance throwing 54 1/3 innings striking out 63, walking 19 while posting a 2.32 ERA (3.08 FIP) and 0.902 WHIP. In his first eight games he posted a 3.18 ERA , 1.417 WHIP struck out five and walked two in 5 2/3 IP innings before being sent to AAA. He spent the rest of the season commuting between Albuquerque and LA.
With the Isotopes he posted a 4.40 ERA, 1.465 WHIP striking out 35 and walking 17 in 28 2/3 innings a strike out rate of 11/9IP. While those numbers look high PCL is hitters league, the league ERA that season was 4.56 with a 1.453 WHIP.
Back in the Bigs
The 2015 season saw him in the opening day bullpen but he made just 18 appearances totaling 10 1/3 innings before going on the DL May 31st for what was thought to be an elbow strain. He made a couple of attempts at a rehab before having a bone spur and some debris surgically removed from the elbow on July 2.
The Braves expected him to be ready for a September call up but Rodriguez experienced prolonged left elbow discomfort while rehabbing at the spring training site near Orlando and a visit to Dr. Andrews confirmed that UCL replacement was required.
When healthy Rodriguez is bad news for hitters on both sides of the plate. In his career lefties have hit just .174/.245/.234 including 66 strikeouts and 14 walks in 186 PA while righties hit just .210/.298/.331 striking out 25 times and walking 16 in 1 43 PA so he’s more than simply a LOOGY.
That’s A Wrap
Today’s announcement explains why John Hart and John Scheurholz didn’t mention him when they were discussing the bullpen for next season in their on air interview with Chip Carey, Tom Glavine and Joe Simpson. Like the Braves after the trade, I looked forward to seeing Paco Power exploding out of our bullpen next year. The idea of Rodriguez joining a healthy Jason Grilli, Arodys Vizcaino. Chris Withrow and Shae Simmons the back of the bullpen should make any fan smile. Even without him I’m optimistic about the bullpen based on the players we have in the system.
The Braves will certainly look to add another arm this off season and the loss of Rodriguez leaves us with a currently out of favor Andrew McKirahan and Matt Marksberry as our lefties. While Marksberry’s been good as a LOOGY depth is needed in that role.
Everyone here at the Take wish Rodriguez a speedy and uneventful recovery and look forward to seeing him at the new ballpark in 2017.