Fernando Rodney
Encyclopedia
Fernando Rodney is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. Rodney throws a fastball
in the mid to upper-90 miles per hour and a changeup
in the low 80s.
as an amateur free agent
in 1997. He spent 1999–2003 in the minor leagues, moving from the Gulf Coast League
to the International League
. Rodney underwent Tommy John surgery
following the 2003 season (which he spent in the minor leagues). He spent the 2004 season recovering and failed to make the Tigers opening day roster after 2005 spring training
.
and the Tigers from 2002–2005.
In 2005, Rodney became the Tigers closer
after Troy Percival
went down with an arm injury and his replacement, Kyle Farnsworth
, was traded at mid-season to the Atlanta Braves
. He was called up from Toledo after Farnsworth was traded, then settled into the closer role, earning nine saves in 39 total appearances, during which he racked up a 2.86 earned run average
.
When the Tigers signed closer Todd Jones
during the 2006 off-season, Rodney was reinserted into a middle relief/setup role. Rodney embraced the role as the Tigers proceeded to have their most successful season in recent history.
On July 3, 2006, at McAfee Coliseum
in Oakland, California
Justin Verlander
, Joel Zumaya
, and Rodney each threw multiple fastballs clocked in at over 100 mph, becoming the first time in MLB history that three pitchers, on the same team, had done so during one game, just five games into the season they became the first MLB team to have three pitchers, the same three, throw over 100 mph in a season.
Rodney started 2008 on the disabled list
with shoulder tendinitis. He re-joined the big league club in mid-June. On July 27, Rodney was announced as the Tigers new closer, replacing Todd Jones.
Following the 2009 season, the Tigers offered arbitration to Rodney, which he rejected to pursue a multi year deal. He was expected to be one of the more valuable closers on the market because as a "Type B Free Agent", he would not cost teams a Draft pick, just a less valuable supplementary draft pick. Also, his 1.40 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio ranked first among free-agent closers. Originally, the Baltimore Orioles
and Philadelphia Phillies
were rumored to be interested in signing Rodney. Soon the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
were reported to be in serious discussions with his agent.
. Although he closed for the Detroit Tigers in 2009, "Rodney is expected to share setup duties with Scot Shields and Kevin Jepsen and close on a fill-in basis when Brian Fuentes is down," the LA Times reported.
Rodney states, "I think I'm a different pitcher in save situations," referring to his lower ERA in save situations. He filled in April for Angels' closer Brian Fuentes
when he went on the disabled list with a strained back.
Three days after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim traded Brian Fuentes on August 27, 2010 to the Minnesota Twins, it was officially announced that Rodney would be the new closer by manager Mike Scioscia. On April 5, 2011, Rodney was replaced by Jordan Walden
as the full time closer.
Throughout the 2011 season, Rodney has been very unpopular with Angels fans, characterized by the way he wears his hat and that he has blown several leads.
In late September 2011, Rodney became frustrated after a lack of relief appearances and asked Angels general manager Tony Reagins
for a trade.http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/23/sports/la-sp-0924-angels-fyi-20110924
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. Rodney throws a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
in the mid to upper-90 miles per hour and a changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
in the low 80s.
Minor leagues
Rodney was signed by the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1997. He spent 1999–2003 in the minor leagues, moving from the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
to the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Rodney underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
following the 2003 season (which he spent in the minor leagues). He spent the 2004 season recovering and failed to make the Tigers opening day roster after 2005 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
Detroit Tigers
Rodney made his Major League league debut 2002 at the age of 25 and split his time between the Triple-A Toledo Mud HensToledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
and the Tigers from 2002–2005.
In 2005, Rodney became the Tigers closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
after Troy Percival
Troy Percival
Troy Eugene Percival is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He gained fame as a closer. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1995-2009 for four different teams, pitching primarily with the California/Anaheim Angels...
went down with an arm injury and his replacement, Kyle Farnsworth
Kyle Farnsworth
Kyle Lynn Farnsworth is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school and college:...
, was traded at mid-season to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He was called up from Toledo after Farnsworth was traded, then settled into the closer role, earning nine saves in 39 total appearances, during which he racked up a 2.86 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
When the Tigers signed closer Todd Jones
Todd Jones (baseball player)
Todd Barton Jones is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was an effective middle reliever for a variety of teams, and he had an up-and-down career as a closer...
during the 2006 off-season, Rodney was reinserted into a middle relief/setup role. Rodney embraced the role as the Tigers proceeded to have their most successful season in recent history.
On July 3, 2006, at McAfee Coliseum
McAfee Coliseum
O.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander
Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
, Joel Zumaya
Joel Zumaya
Joel Martin Zumaya is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher known for his record-breaking fastballs.-Baseball career:...
, and Rodney each threw multiple fastballs clocked in at over 100 mph, becoming the first time in MLB history that three pitchers, on the same team, had done so during one game, just five games into the season they became the first MLB team to have three pitchers, the same three, throw over 100 mph in a season.
Rodney started 2008 on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with shoulder tendinitis. He re-joined the big league club in mid-June. On July 27, Rodney was announced as the Tigers new closer, replacing Todd Jones.
Following the 2009 season, the Tigers offered arbitration to Rodney, which he rejected to pursue a multi year deal. He was expected to be one of the more valuable closers on the market because as a "Type B Free Agent", he would not cost teams a Draft pick, just a less valuable supplementary draft pick. Also, his 1.40 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio ranked first among free-agent closers. Originally, the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
were rumored to be interested in signing Rodney. Soon the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
were reported to be in serious discussions with his agent.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
On December 24, 2009, Rodney signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Although he closed for the Detroit Tigers in 2009, "Rodney is expected to share setup duties with Scot Shields and Kevin Jepsen and close on a fill-in basis when Brian Fuentes is down," the LA Times reported.
Rodney states, "I think I'm a different pitcher in save situations," referring to his lower ERA in save situations. He filled in April for Angels' closer Brian Fuentes
Brian Fuentes
Brian Christopher Fuentes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. Previously, he played for the Seattle Mariners, the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Minnesota Twins...
when he went on the disabled list with a strained back.
Three days after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim traded Brian Fuentes on August 27, 2010 to the Minnesota Twins, it was officially announced that Rodney would be the new closer by manager Mike Scioscia. On April 5, 2011, Rodney was replaced by Jordan Walden
Jordan Walden
Jordan Walden nicknamed "Waldo", is a right-handed pitcher on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim active roster.-Early life:...
as the full time closer.
Throughout the 2011 season, Rodney has been very unpopular with Angels fans, characterized by the way he wears his hat and that he has blown several leads.
In late September 2011, Rodney became frustrated after a lack of relief appearances and asked Angels general manager Tony Reagins
Tony Reagins
Tony Demetrius Reagins was an executive in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Reagins had previously served as general manager of the Angels from 2007 until his 2011 resignation...
for a trade.http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/23/sports/la-sp-0924-angels-fyi-20110924