The Milwaukee Brewers have made their second MLB signing of the off-season as they added a 26 year old pitcher who played in Japan last year. No, this is not Roki Sasaki, but this player does have some uniqueness to his game that the organization’s pitching lab and development team is going to have a lot of fun with.
Elvin Rodriguez is the Milwaukee Brewers second MLB signing of the off-season
Earlier this off-season, Milwaukee signed Grant Wolfram to a MLB deal. Now they have added 26 year old Elvin Rodriguez as he agreed to a one year deal that includes a 2026 club option. Right-hander JB Bukauskas was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Bukauskas previously showed promise to be a break out pitching candidate, but injuries limited his time on the mound while with the Brewers.
In Japan last year, Elvin Rodriguez pitched to a 1.74 ERA
Over the last year and a half, Elvin Rodriguez has been pitching in Japan. Before heading overseas, the former international free agent, who signed with the Los Angels Angels as a teenager, debuted in the big leagues in 2022 with the Detroit Tigers and then got in one game with the Tampa Bay Rays a season afterwards. Last year, he operated strictly out of the bullpen and posted a 1.74 ERA across 88.0 innings pitched.
What makes Elvin Rodriguez unique?
On the mound, Elvin Rodriguez has a 94-95 MPH fastball that he pairs well with a slider. His heater is not only thrown fast, but it has a lot of rise to it. That rising action stems from the spin he puts on the ball, but also the angle in which he throws from.
While Elvin Rodriguez is a long shot to make the opening day roster, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Milwaukee use him at various points throughout the season. He has two minor league options remaining, so the Brewers will have roster flexibility with him over each of the next two seasons, if the club option gets exercised for next year.
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