Reliever who is trying to work his way back into Blue Jays' bullpen has strong outing in WBC

"Yariel Rodriguez has looked downright ugly on the mound in his pair of Spring Training appearances this year (37.80 ERA), but the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander isn't a lost cause quite yet. In fact, he's been enthralling for Team Cubs in this year's World Baseball Classic, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings over a pair of outings while allowing just one hit and six strikeouts."

"One of the team's more notable non-roster invitees to camp this year, Rodriguez has a ways to go before he convinces the front office to place him back on the 40-man roster. But with Team Cuba one win away from advancing out of pool play in part to his heroics, the path back to Toronto is starting to look a little clearer."

"He signed with the Blue Jays later that year on a five-year, $32 million contract, with the hope being that he'd serve as a swingman for a retooled pitching staff. He more or less delivered on that premise, nailing down a 3.83 ERA (4.37 FIP) over 87 games, including 22 starts (21 of which came in 2024)."

Yariel Rodriguez, a Toronto Blue Jays right-hander, has struggled significantly in Spring Training with a 37.80 ERA across two appearances. However, his performance with Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic tells a different story. Rodriguez has pitched 4.1 scoreless innings across two outings, allowing just one hit with six strikeouts. He recorded three strikeouts in two shutout innings against Colombia and 2.1 innings with three strikeouts against Panama. Originally signed to a five-year, $32 million contract in 2023, Rodriguez was designated for assignment this offseason after posting a 10.13 ERA in four World Series appearances. His World Baseball Classic success suggests a potential path back to the Blue Jays' roster.

Read at Jays Journal