Curt Schilling: Eduardo Rodriguez Is Boston Red Sox’s ‘Ace-In-Waiting’

Curt Schilling thinks the world of Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez shined in his major league debut last week, earning the 22-year-old at least one more start in Boston’s rotation. Schilling, a former Red Sox pitcher and current ESPN analyst, has long been a believer in Rodriguez, even before Boston acquired the left-hander from the Baltimore Orioles last season.

“To me, the ace-in-waiting, the Rodriguez kid is the real deal,” Schilling said Wednesday on WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan.” “I still believe he was the best player that moved at the deadline last year. That creates some urgency for me to have a veteran guy in the rotation with him. He’s a special talent, and I’d want that to go right mentally for me.”

The Red Sox have been scrutinized for not pursuing an ace to spearhead their rotation. The argument for going after a front-line starter obviously starts with Boston’s plan to contend this season, but Schilling makes a compelling case regarding the unit’s future. Rodriguez, Brian Johnson and Henry Owens all are highly regarded pitching prospects, but who is going to lead the group?

Nevertheless, Rodriguez, whom the Red Sox acquired from the O’s in exchange for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, has a ton of upside. Even if he doesn’t evolve into an ace, he figures to be a key component of Boston’s pitching staff for the foreseeable future.