Pirates Sign Yerry Rodriguez to Minor League Deal: A Fresh Start for the Struggling Righty

The Pittsburgh Pirates have added right-handed pitcher Yerry Rodriguez to their system, signing him to a minor league deal that includes an invite to big league Spring Training, per Ari Alexander of KPRC2. This signing marks a low-risk, high-reward move for the Pirates as they look to add depth to their bullpen and potentially uncover a reclamation project in Rodriguez, who has had an up-and-down career in the majors and minors over the past few seasons.

A Bumpy Road to Pittsburgh

Rodriguez, 27, has seen significant action in the majors over the past three seasons, but his performance has been far from consistent. Originally a starting pitcher in the minors, Rodriguez struggled at the Triple-A level in 2021, prompting a shift to the bullpen. That move initially showed some promise, as he posted a respectable 4.27 ERA at Triple-A in 2022. However, his struggles with command remained a persistent issue, as he issued an 11.9% walk rate while striking out a solid 27.2% of batters faced. Despite the wildness, the positive strikeout numbers earned him another opportunity in the big leagues.

Rodriguez’s brief stint in the majors in 2022 was underwhelming, as he threw just one scoreless inning in his lone appearance. He would continue to shuttle between the minors and majors in 2023, but his performance took a significant downturn. At Triple-A, Rodriguez’s ERA ballooned to 5.03, and his command issues worsened as he walked 12% of hitters. In the majors, the right-hander posted a brutal 7.90 ERA over 13 2/3 innings, surrendering 20 hits and six walks while seeing his strikeout rate drop to just 22.7%.

2024 Struggles with Texas and Toronto

Rodriguez’s 2024 season didn’t fare much better. After opening the year with the Texas Rangers, he posted a 6.88 ERA in 17 innings at the major league level, striking out just 12 batters while walking 11. His struggles at Triple-A Round Rock were even worse, as he posted a 6.08 ERA in 13 1/3 innings. Though Rodriguez’s strikeout rate (33.3%) remained impressive, it was once again undone by a massive walk rate of 15.2%.

In late June, the Rangers shipped Rodriguez to the Toronto Blue Jays, but the results there were not much better. At Triple-A Buffalo, Rodriguez enjoyed a brief period of success, posting a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings, but his command issues remained apparent as he walked nine batters in that span. Unfortunately for Rodriguez, his major league stint with Toronto was disastrous, as he posted a staggering 15.43 ERA in just four appearances, allowing nine hits, including two home runs, in 4 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez’s struggles with the Blue Jays led to him being designated for assignment in September, eventually electing free agency after being outrighted to the minors.

Pirates Take a Chance on Rodriguez

Despite the significant challenges Rodriguez has faced, his signing by the Pirates offers him a fresh start. With the Pirates entering Spring Training, Rodriguez will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the bullpen, where his fastball, which averages 96.8 mph, could offer the Pirates a potential high-leverage arm if he can regain his form.

While Rodriguez’s command issues have been a significant obstacle throughout his career, his high strikeout potential and youthful age (he just turned 27) suggest that there could still be untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. The Pirates will likely aim to address his control problems and harness his power stuff to provide him with the best chance of success.

Can the Pirates Help Rodriguez Rebound?

For the Pirates, the hope is that a change of scenery and some focused development can help Rodriguez turn a corner. The team has a track record of working with pitchers to maximize their potential, and they may be able to help Rodriguez refine his mechanics and improve his command. If he can cut down on his walk rate and harness his strikeout ability, Rodriguez could emerge as a reliable bullpen option for Pittsburgh in 2025 and beyond.

At this point in his career, Rodriguez is still very much a work in progress, but his fastball velocity and strikeout upside make him an intriguing project for the Pirates. While it’s far from a guarantee that he will make the big league roster to start the season, he will get a chance to prove himself in Spring Training, and if he impresses, could be a key contributor to the bullpen in the future.

Conclusion

The Pirates’ signing of Yerry Rodriguez is a classic example of a low-risk, high-reward move. While his recent track record in both the majors and minors has been underwhelming, his age, stuff, and strikeout potential give Pittsburgh a reason to take a flyer on him. If Rodriguez can iron out his command issues, he could provide a valuable arm in the bullpen in the coming seasons. The next few months will be critical for the right-hander as he enters Spring Training with a chance to prove he belongs in the big leagues once again.