Red sox Key Player Sets to Leave Immediately after the Spring Training Due to…

The Boston Red Sox continue to bolster their bullpen by adding players to their spring training roster. Along with the rest of the Sox staff, one individual is already working at Fenway South.

After the Boston Red Sox declined his option for the upcoming season back in November, reliever Joely Rodríguez re-signed on a minor-league contract. The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams broke the news of Rodríguez’s signing.

A victim of injuries, Rodríguez played the entire season with the Red Sox. Because to oblique strains and inflammation in his hip and shoulder, he only threw 11 innings. Within the limited number of games he played, Rodríguez recorded a 6.55 ERA, 13 hits—two of which were home runs—six walks, and 14 strikeouts.

The reliever has two seasons of Nippon Professional Baseball experience in addition to his six years in MLB. With 2.30 ERA in 2018 and 1.64 ERA in 2019, he was a standout in Japan. Although his career U.S. ERA is 4.70, he has shown improvement in recent years.

After coming back from Japan, Rodríguez has faced batters and struck out 25.5% of them with an ERA of 4.28. Although his walk rate is greater than the league average, he may be able to offset it with his ground ball efficiency and strikeout rate.

Brennan Bernardino is the only lefty in Boston’s pen, and Rodriguez is not the only lefty on the Red Sox pitching staff. Rivaling for a position on the pitching staff are experienced left-hander Lucas Luetge and veteran pitcher Rodríguez. One of the two pitchers has a good chance of making the major league roster because there isn’t much competition from lefties.