BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox: Five storylines to keep track of in Spring Training

By Josh Greenberg

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 18: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout during Game Five of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 18: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout during Game Five of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the first inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the first inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

As the young lefty enters his fifth season with the Red Sox, there are several good reasons to believe this will be the year Eduardo Rodriguez finally takes that next step we’ve all been expecting for a so long. For one thing, he’s finally healthy; the knee injuries that have plagued him in previous seasons finally seem behind him, and the ankle injury he suffered last season spurred him to return better than ever and close out the year with a career-low 3.82 ERA.

This spring, Rodriguez arrived in camp in the best shape of his life and has added a third pitch to his arsenal. His primary issues have always been durability and predictability, and he seems to have worked hard to address both this offseason. His progress with the slider, his new weapon, warrants a close eye or two; he’s been mentored in its development by Chris Sale and Pedro Martinez and it would be hard to find two more qualified teachers. He’s drawn nothing but rave reviews from his fellow pitchers thus far. All we can do now is watch and see if the good vibes keep going.

Right now, E-Rod will likely be the fifth starter, behind Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, and Nathan Eovaldi. If he can be as good as everyone thinks he’s going to be, then the Red Sox could have the league’s best rotation from top to bottom. A rotation like that would be hard to beat in the playoffs.

Home/Red Sox News