"Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodríguez will officially represent Team Cuba at this year's World Baseball Classic in March, Francys Romero of Beisbol FR reported Thursday. Rodríguez, who pitched for Cuba during the 2023 tournament before defecting shortly afterwards, received approval from the Blue Jays to participate in the upcoming best-on-best event, per Romero's report. He'll report to Dunedin, Fla., for spring training on Feb. 11 before joining his fellow countrymen in Arizona on Mar. 1. Toronto's brass has placed special conditions on Rodríguez's participation, however, prohibiting him from working as a starter and pitching more than two innings per outing."
"During the 2023-24 off-season, the right-hander inked a five-year, $32 million contract with the Blue Jays and spent the entire campaign as a starter, making 21 starts with the big-league club. But after things didn't click during his inaugural season, he was moved to the bullpen last season - only to be mired with mixed results, as evidenced by his 3.08 ERA, 4.40 FIP and 10.7 per cent strikeout-minus-walk rate (K-BB%) in 66 appearances (one start)."
Yariel Rodríguez will represent Team Cuba at the World Baseball Classic and will report to Dunedin, Fla., for spring training on Feb. 11, joining Cuba in Arizona on Mar. 1. Toronto approved the participation but prohibited him from starting and limited outings to two innings. Rodríguez made two starts for Cuba in 2023, allowing two runs on five hits, six walks and two hit-by-pitches while striking out 10 across 7.1 innings, then took the rest of the year off. He signed a five-year, $32 million deal with Toronto, moved from starter to reliever, posted a 3.08 ERA in 66 appearances, was outrighted off the 40-man roster, and now attends spring camp as a non-roster invitee attempting to regain standing among the club's relievers.
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