Some of Eduardo Rodriguez’s success can be attributed to a few elite former Major League Baseball pitchers.
The Boston Red Sox pitcher wasn’t always a left-handed pitcher. He was forced to change throwing arms after breaking his right arm and was in a cast for a year-and-a-half.
“When I went to the doctor he took the cast off, he said ‘You can’t throw anymore with your right (arm),” he said in an interview with “Infield Chatter.” “That’s why I switched to be a lefty and look where I am.”
The 26-year-old also revealed he’s modeled his game after former Minnesota Twins lefty Johan Santana. And had a special thank you to the pitcher.
“I learned a lot with him about how to throw the changeup,” he said. “And that’s the best pitch I have. So gotta say thanks to him for that pitch.”
When he isn’t learning from Santana, he’s studying under Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez.
“He says ‘Throw this pitch against this guy,’ I throw it,” Rodriguez said.
Check out his full interview below:
.@RedSox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has a career high 14 wins.
Some of the credit for @eduardorod5's success goes to @45PedroMartinez and @johansantana.
The rest of it is fate. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/TJru5aIvkt
— MLB Players Media (@MLBPlayersMedia) August 20, 2019
Rodriguez has reached a career-high in wins this season with a 14-5 record. He’s amassed a 4.10 ERA, 1.347 WHIP and has been a constant for the Red Sox throughout the year. He is slated to take the mound on Friday, Aug. 23 when Boston heads to San Diego to face the Padres.
