Breaking News: Brewers Recall Sensational Prospect Amid Injury Crisis
No. 6 Prospect Rodriguez Shines in MLB Debut
Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook is still getting to know the latest young talent at American Family Field, but he already knows one thing about 22-year-old Carlos Rodriguez: he likes his unique uniform number.
In Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to the Blue Jays, Rodriguez, the Brewers’ No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, made his Major League debut, becoming the third player in franchise history to don the double-zero.
“I think that says something about the kid,” Hook said. “What that is, I don’t exactly know yet.”
The Brewers will have plenty of opportunities to learn more about Rodriguez. Manager Pat Murphy indicated that Rodriguez’s performance was promising enough to earn him more starts, though he plans to confer with his staff before making a final decision. Rodriguez is already the 12th different pitcher to start for Milwaukee this season in just 67 games, a surprising fact given the Brewers’ current 6 1/2 game lead in their division.
Murphy hoped Rodriguez would last six innings, but the young pitcher managed only 3 2/3 innings on 71 pitches. He began his Major League career by striking out Blue Jays leadoff hitter Spencer Horwitz and got ahead of three of the first four batters he faced. However, he struggled later, falling behind nine of his final 15 batters.
Rodriguez allowed two earned runs on seven hits, walked one, and struck out four. While it wasn’t the most memorable debut of the season for the Brewers, it was a start.
“I’m really pleased,” Murphy said. “I thought he threw the ball well. I thought he showed tremendous poise.”
Rodriguez’s debut made him the 16th player born in Nicaragua to reach the Majors. His family moved to Miami when he was eight, and he grew up there before being drafted by Milwaukee in the sixth round in 2021. Since then, Rodriguez’s rise has been swift, earning him the title of the organization’s Minor League pitcher of the year in both 2022 and 2023, sharing the honor with left-hander Robert Gasser last year.
Gasser, like Rodriguez, made his Major League debut this year. An injury to Gasser’s left elbow created an opportunity for Rodriguez to become the eighth player to debut with the Brewers this season, second only to the Athletics (nine).
“He’s a pitcher, you know? He’s looking to get outs in different ways,” Murphy said. “He’s not a ‘stuff’ guy necessarily, but he’s a pitcher. If he gets on track, he can give you some length. That’s crucial for us to be able to get deep in the game.”
Rodriguez showcased a true six-pitch mix. Statcast recorded 16 four-seam fastballs, 15 sliders, 14 sinkers, 11 cutters, 10 changeups, and five curveballs.
Making it to the Majors was “a dream come true” for Rodriguez, though he hoped for better results.
“After that [first] inning, I felt like I was falling behind hitters a little bit,” Rodriguez said. “I had a lot of weak contact, but I have to work on getting ahead of hitters. … That first inning was a little short, so I couldn’t see what was working at the time. In the ‘pen, I felt like everything was working well. I was just leaving a lot of pitches up.”
Sometimes, the first step for a player is realizing he belongs. Rodriguez had a head start in that department last spring when he pitched for Nicaragua against a formidable Puerto Rico lineup in the World Baseball Classic in Miami.
Because of that experience, Tuesday wasn’t his first time on the mound in a Major League stadium.
“I feel like I was really confident because I’ve been in situations like that,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t have a problem with that. Just keep doing what I do.”
As for the uniform number, it was mainly a matter of limited options. With nine players on the injured list, an expanding roster of coaches, and other numbers either officially retired or unofficially reserved, Rodriguez’s choices were limited.
Rather than choose a number above 60, he thought double-zero might be “cool.”
Zeros are fitting for a pitcher, after all.
“I was like, ‘I’ll take it.’ I was just excited to be here,” Rodriguez said. “That was not on my mind. I was just focused on pitching.”
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