Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is ready to bounce back from 2020
Nearly a year removed from being sidelined for the entirety of the 2020 season, Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is ready to jump back into action. During a press conference at the team’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, which can be found here, Rodriguez addressed the frustrations that came with watching the season unfold from home and that he fully anticipates the team to bounce back from last season.
When speaking to the media today, Rodriguez spoke confidently about both his ability to be a sustainable asset to a team that badly needs productivity out of the starting rotation and that the rest of the rotation would assist in carrying that load.
When asked about the team’s chances to contend in 2021, the lefty did not think back when responding boldly, “Don’t sleep on us.” This mentality appears to be the collective narrative of the club to this point in the season. The players are eager to go out and show the rest of the league that 2020 was a fluke.
With their communicative manager Alex Cora back at the helm after a year-long hiatus from the game, things are starting to feel just about as normal as can be during a time of uncertainty.
Just about every single player who was a member of the team during Cora’s first stint as manager between 2018-19 has spoken highly of Cora during any discussions with the media, assuring every reporter and writer that they had kept in touch with their manager over the course of his time away from the team.
Rodriguez has an optimistic outlook going into spring training and all the ingredients necessary to excel: positive morale, his manager back in the fold, and most importantly, his health. After being diagnosed with myocarditis, simple daily tasks became a hindrance in his ability to stick to a routine in his off-time. That is now a distant memory.
The southpaw noted that he has come a long way since the summertime when he was unable to throw abbreviated bullpen sessions without an overbearing feeling of exhaustion. That is no longer the case, as he has been able to throw longer bullpen sessions at full strength without the slightest hint of fatigue.
Rodriguez says he'll throw another bullpen tomorrow. Isn't worried about fatigue on the mound now, but admits how hard it was last summer when he tried to come back before being shut down. Couldn't throw 25 pitches without getting winded. Says that's not the case at all anymore
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) February 19, 2021
While the organization plans to ease Rodriguez into a regular workload, he is eager to get back to work and leave his unfortunate coronavirus side-effects in the rear-view. The reaffirmation in his confidence to brush off last season’s setback and come back strong was very evident over the course of his press conference.
He stayed busy in the offseason, working out with fellow Red Sox member J.D. Martinez. He went on to mention that Martinez himself was looking sharp and shared the same mindset in bouncing back after what was a rough season offensively for the designated hitter.
Cora then jumped back on for a press conference after Rodriguez’s and noted that the left-hander is actually planning on throwing live batting practice tomorrow. It would appear that the coaching staff is more lenient in allowing him to test his boundaries. The results of his showcase tomorrow could further influence the team’s plans on his workload this spring.
Rodriguez will be an interesting name to watch throughout the spring as observers from afar will be able to witness the progression and resilience the left-hander hopes to display in coming back strong after being unable to participate in any capacity this past season. He will be back on the bump tomorrow, continuing to build a case to coaches that he is indeed at full strength.