Rosario Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Rosario Isabel Rodríguez Echavarria (born July 8, 1969 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds
and the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He debuted on September 1, 1989 with the Reds and against his future team, the Pirates. He was the youngest player to play in the National League
in 1989.
Rodríguez attended high school in Mexico City
. In March 1987, the Cincinnati Reds
signed him as an amateur free agent at the age of 17. He spent the 1987 one season with the Reds' rookie team, pitching in 17 games and posting a 1-5 record and a 3.08 earned run average
(ERA). Rodríguez split the 1988 season between the Cedar Rapids Reds and the Greensboro Hornets. With Greensboro, he pitched in 23 games with an ERA of only 1.52. He spent the 1989 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts
of the Southern League
, where he pitched in 28 games, won three and lost none with a 4.47 ERA. At the conclusion of the minor league season, he was called up by the Reds to make his debut.
Rodríguez made his major league debut on September 1, 1989 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the course of the 1989 Cincinnati Reds season
, he pitched in seven games, posted a 1-1 record, and was the youngest player in the National League
that season at the age of 20. He spent in the off-season in the Mexican League, then in March 1991 was signed to a one-year deal along with Rob Dibble
, Chris Sabo
, and Reggie Jefferson
. He again spent most of the season in the minors, mainly playing for Chattanooga but also playing five games for the Nashville Sounds
. He pitched in 36 games for Chattanooga and had a 4.36 ERA. During the 1991 Cincinnati Reds season
, he pitched in nine games and had a 6.10 ERA, not winning or losing any games.
While Rodríguez was on the winter roster for the Reds, he was waived by the team in December. On December 20, the Pittsburgh Pirates
claimed him off waivers. He was scheduled to be in camp by February 21, but due to visa problems, he did not arrive in camp until March. He split time with the Buffalo Bisons
and the Pirates that season. With Buffalo, he pitched in 48 games and posted a 4-3 record and a 3.00 ERA. During the 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates season
, he pitched in 18 games and had an ERA of 4.11. He also had one appearance during the 1991 National League Championship Series
, allowing three runs in one inning against the Atlanta Braves
.
His final professional season was in 1992 with the Bisons. In four games, Rodríguez had an ERA of 18.00. He spent three separate occasions on the disabled list that season with shoulder trouble, the third stint in June costing him the season. He was released from the Pirates in March 1993, ending his professional career.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) is a former Major League Baseball
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...
pitcher who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He debuted on September 1, 1989 with the Reds and against his future team, the Pirates. He was the youngest player to play in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 1989.
Rodríguez attended high school in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. In March 1987, the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
signed him as an amateur free agent at the age of 17. He spent the 1987 one season with the Reds' rookie team, pitching in 17 games and posting a 1-5 record and a 3.08 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...
(ERA). Rodríguez split the 1988 season between the Cedar Rapids Reds and the Greensboro Hornets. With Greensboro, he pitched in 23 games with an ERA of only 1.52. He spent the 1989 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
, where he pitched in 28 games, won three and lost none with a 4.47 ERA. At the conclusion of the minor league season, he was called up by the Reds to make his debut.
Rodríguez made his major league debut on September 1, 1989 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the course of the 1989 Cincinnati Reds season
1989 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1989 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West for the first time since 1979. The season was defined by allegations of gambling by Pete Rose. Before the end of the season, Rose was banned from baseball by commissioner A...
, he pitched in seven games, posted a 1-1 record, and was the youngest player in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
that season at the age of 20. He spent in the off-season in the Mexican League, then in March 1991 was signed to a one-year deal along with Rob Dibble
Rob Dibble
Robert Keith Dibble is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and television analyst.-Personal life:Dibble is a graduate of Southington High School in Southington, Connecticut...
, Chris Sabo
Chris Sabo
Christopher Andrew Sabo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals . At 6'0" and 180 lb , he batted and threw right-handed...
, and Reggie Jefferson
Reggie Jefferson
Reginald Jirod Jefferson is a former designated hitter who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox. He played from to . He was traded in the winter of by Cleveland to Seattle for speedy shortstop Omar Vizquel...
. He again spent most of the season in the minors, mainly playing for Chattanooga but also playing five games for the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. He pitched in 36 games for Chattanooga and had a 4.36 ERA. During the 1991 Cincinnati Reds season
1991 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1991 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West.-Offseason:* January 29, 1990: Skeeter Barnes was signed as a free agent by the Reds....
, he pitched in nine games and had a 6.10 ERA, not winning or losing any games.
While Rodríguez was on the winter roster for the Reds, he was waived by the team in December. On December 20, the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
claimed him off waivers. He was scheduled to be in camp by February 21, but due to visa problems, he did not arrive in camp until March. He split time with the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
and the Pirates that season. With Buffalo, he pitched in 48 games and posted a 4-3 record and a 3.00 ERA. During the 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates season
1991 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 110th in franchise history. For the second consecutive season, the Pirates won the National League East Division Title...
, he pitched in 18 games and had an ERA of 4.11. He also had one appearance during the 1991 National League Championship Series
1991 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Pirates proved they would be tough to eliminate early when they stifled the Braves offense behind 1990 Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek and won the first game 5–1...
, allowing three runs in one inning against 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....
.
His final professional season was in 1992 with the Bisons. In four games, Rodríguez had an ERA of 18.00. He spent three separate occasions on the disabled list that season with shoulder trouble, the third stint in June costing him the season. He was released from the Pirates in March 1993, ending his professional career.