Yariel Rodríguez

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Yariel Rodríguez

|image=Yariel Rodríguez DRAGONS 29 20220731.jpg

|image_size=

|caption=Rodriguez with the Chunichi Dragons

|position=Pitcher

|team= Toronto Blue Jays

|number=29

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1997|3|10}}

|birth_place=Camagüey, Cuba

| debutleague = NPB

| debutdate = August 9

| debutyear = 2020

| debutteam = Chunichi Dragons

|debut2league= MLB

|debut2date = April 13

|debut2year = 2024

|debut2team = Toronto Blue Jays

| statyear = 2022 season

| statleague = NPB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 10–10

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.03

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 188

|stat2year = May 3, 2025

|stat2league = MLB

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 1–8

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 4.61

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 96

|teams=

Chunichi Dragons ({{npby|2020}}–{{npby|2022}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

| awards =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{bb|CUB}}}}

}}

Yariel Humberto Rodríguez Yordy (born March 10, 1997) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons. He has also played in the Cuban National Series for Ganaderos de Camagüey and for the Cuba national baseball team in international competitions.

Professional career

=Chunichi Dragons=

Rodríguez had previously been linked with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB){{Cite news |url=https://pelotacubanausa.com/2018/09/05/softbank-podria-tener-interes-en-yariel-rodriguez-tambien-2/ |title=SoftBank podría tener interés en Yariel Rodríguez también |date=September 5, 2018 |work=Cuban Ball |access-date=February 20, 2020 |language=es |trans-title= SoftBank may have an interest in Yariel Rodríguez as well}} before signing with NPB's Chunichi Dragons on a development deal on January 26, 2020.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2020/01/26/kiji/20200126s00001173200000c.html |title=中日キューバ出身のヤリエル・ロドリゲス投手と育成契約 |date=January 26, 2020 |work=Sponichi |access-date=February 20, 2020 |language=ja |trans-title=Chunichi sign development deal with Cuban pitcher, Yariel Rodriguez}} Rodríguez recorded a 3–4 win–loss record and 4.12 earned run average (ERA) in 11 appearances in his first year with Chunichi.

In 2021, Rodríguez made 12 appearances with Chunichi's main team, posting a 1–4 record and 3.65 ERA with 61 strikeouts in {{frac|61|2|3}} innings pitched. In 2022, he pitched in 56 games for the club, logging a 6–2 record and a 1.15 ERA with 60 strikeouts in {{frac|54|2|3}} innings of work. He was named the Central League Most Valuable Setup Pitcher following the season.

On March 28, 2023, Rodríguez unilaterally left the Dragons to seek a contract with a Major League Baseball (MLB) team.{{cite web | title=Yariel Rodriguez: Leaves Japan seeking MLB deal | website=CBSSports.com | date=March 28, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yariel-rodriguez-leaves-japan-seeking-mlb-deal/amp/ | access-date=October 23, 2024}} The Dragons have declared that the contract with Rodríguez is still valid.{{cite web | url=https://www.daily.co.jp/baseball/2023/04/10/0016229823.shtml | title=亡命？ロドリゲスから連絡まだ来ず中日球団代表「現在はドラゴンズの選手」/デイリースポーツ online | date=June 27, 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/669080 | title=【中日】亡命報道のジャリエル・ロドリゲスはドミニカ共和国にいた！トレーニング動画を米記者がツイッターで公開：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ }} On October 5, Rodríguez was officially released by Chunichi, and it was reported that he would look to sign an MLB contract.{{Cite web|title=Yariel Rodriguez: Looking for MLB deal|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yariel-rodriguez-looking-for-mlb-deal/amp/|access-date=October 5, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On February 9, 2024, Rodríguez signed a five-year, $32 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yariel-rodriguez-deal-with-blue-jays|title=Blue Jays announce 5-year deal with Cuban righty Rodríguez|website=MLB.com}} He was optioned to the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays' Yariel Rodriguez: Optioned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/blue-jays-yariel-rodriguez-optioned-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=March 26, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On April 13, Rodríguez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays Recall Yariel Rodriguez|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/blue-jays-reportedly-plan-to-recall-yariel-rodriguez.html|access-date=April 13, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Pitching style

As a reliever, Rodríguez throws a fastball topping out at {{convert|100.|mph}} and a slider as his two primary pitches.{{cite web | url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2023/03/28/kiji/20230328s00001173646000c.html | title=中日・ロドリゲス MLB入り目指し亡命か？キューバ代表としてWBC出場米記者報じる - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 野球 }}

International career

Rodriguez was part of the Cuba national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament.{{Cite news |url=https://premier12.wbsc.org/en/2019/news/cubas-premier12-roster-mixes-veterans-future-stars |title=Cuba's Premier12 roster mixes veterans, future stars |date=October 13, 2019 |work=WBSC |access-date=February 20, 2020}} He started the first game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Cuba, striking out six and giving up one run in four innings against the Netherlands.