EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ NEWS

Eduardo Rodriguez named Red Sox’ Opening Day starter Alex Cora knew it all along, but he made it official on Wednesday: Eduardo Rodriguez will be the Red Sox’ Opening Day starter.

MARCH 17, 2021 • BOSTONHERALD.COM

Red Sox Announce Eduardo Rodriguez As Opening Day Starter After missing a season due to COVID-19 complications, the Boston Red Sox officially named Eduardo Rodriguez their Opening Day starter.

MARCH 17, 2021 • NESN.COM

Receives Opening Day nod Manager Alex Cora said Rodriguez will receive the start for the Red Sox's April 1 season opener versus the Orioles, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Impact Based on how Boston's pitching schedule had lined up this spring, Rodriguez had already appeared to be trending toward the Opening Day nod, but it wasn't until after the lefty's third Grapefruit League outing Wednesday that he was locked in for the Red Sox's first game of the season. He was sensational in his latest turn on the mound, limiting the Twins to one run on two hits and no walks while striking out six over five innings. Rodriguez delivered similarly excellent results in his first two starts of the spring, and at this point, he looks to be back in top form after he was sidelined for the 2020 season when he was diagnosed with a heart condition following his positive COVID-19 test over the summer. He returned as a full participant for the start of camp and has thus far avoided any reported setbacks or complications.

MARCH 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Eduardo Rodriguez Building Confidence Amid Solid Spring With Red Sox Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez dazzled again in his spring training outing Thursday by striking out six Minnesota Twins.

MARCH 12, 2021 • NESN.COM

Eduardo Rodriguez's Confidence Building After Six-Strikeout Outing Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez dazzled again in his spring training outing by striking out six Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

MARCH 11, 2021 • NESN.COM

Cora's COVID message: Stay safe, your team needs you

Red Sox manager Alex Cora is hoping his players don't have too much fun on their first off-day of spring training

MARCH 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Makes spring debut Rodriguez allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring game against the Rays.

Impact This was a big start for Rodriguez, who hadn't gone through a pre-game routine in nearly a year. He missed the shortened 2020 season with myocarditis that developed following a severe case of COVID-19. Other than a second-inning home run to Moises Gomez, the left-hander had little trouble navigating Tampa Bay's roster. He was planned to pitch three innings or 50 pitches and was pulled by manager Alex Cora as Rodriguez neared his pitch limit, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Rodriguez, who threw a two-inning simulated game last Sunday, became the first Boston starter to make a progression by pitching into a third inning. He was pleased with his cutter and breaking ball.

MARCH 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swing

Shohei Ohtani figured he’d be careful in his return to the mound after two injury-spoiled seasons

MARCH 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eduardo Rodriguez feels ‘joy’ over first Red Sox start in nearly a year - The Boston Globe The lefthander allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings Friday in his first start since last March 11; he later contracted COVID-19 and was diagnose...

MARCH 5, 2021 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

McAdam: First spring outing by Eduardo Rodriguez was different this time | Boston Sports Journal Boston's fast-growing, fully-credentialed, flying-everywhere collection of professional journalists covering Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celt...

MARCH 5, 2021 • BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.COM

After year away, E-Rod has successful return FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It had been 359 days since Eduardo Rodriguez had gone through his gameday routine, and he had the nerves to tell him it...

MARCH 5, 2021 • MLB.COM

Scheduled to start Friday Rodriguez is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against Tampa Bay, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Impact That means Rodriguez will toe the rubber in Boston's sixth spring game; however, he did throw a two-inning simulated game Saturday and appears on track as the team's No. 1 starter. "He looked good," manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "Actually, we were talking about the fact that he was able to repeat his delivery for two innings. It's a positive. Good stuff. A few pitches over the middle of the plate. As far as mechanics and how he felt, it was a good step towards the right direction." The Red Sox will go with a six-man rotation during the first week of spring games but have not committed to it for the regular season. Whatever happens -- five-man or six-man -- Rodriguez will be part of it and likely be the ace.

FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sim game scheduled Rodriguez will pitch a two-inning simulated game Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Impact Rodriguez, who is expected to be Boston's Opening Day starter, has not yet been scheduled to start a Grapefruit League game. Nathan Eovaldi (Sunday) and Garrett Richards (Monday) will throw the first two games, and all of Boston's starters will throw two innings in their spring debuts.

FEBRUARY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Faces hitters Rodriguez threw to live hitters Tuesday, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.

Impact Rodriguez went through a scary time in 2020, when the heart problems he developed as a result of his battle with COVID-19 prevented him from exercising in any capacity, let alone play baseball. He's going through a normal progression to start camp, however, so he appears to be at minimal risk of opening the season on the injured list. Whether or not he's back to his normal self after not pitching for another year is another question entirely.

FEBRUARY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chaim Bloom said he expects to engage in some contract talks during spring training - The Boston Globe Rafael Devers, Eduardo Rodriguez, Christian Vazquez, and Alex Verdugo are obvious candidates for contract discussions, a topic often broache...

FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Bloom: Red Sox have talent to bounce back from lost 2020

Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom remains optimistic for 2021 even as he focuses on building a team that can compete long-term

FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Feels good after bullpen session Rodriguez threw a bullpen session Wednesday and came out of it feeling 100 percent, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Impact Rodriguez missed all of last season after developing myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, as a result of his battle with COVID-19. The issue made it unsafe for him to exercise, so he has plenty of work to do to get back into baseball shape this spring. He'll presumably be brought along slowly, but it looks as though everything is going as planned so far.

FEBRUARY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Considered fully healthy Rodriguez is a "full go" to start camp according to manager Alex Cora, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Impact The news is great to hear following a rather scary 2020 season for Rodriguez. He developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, as a result of COVID-19, making it too risky for him to exercise in any capacity, let alone play professional baseball. He's seemingly made a full recovery and should have plenty of time to ramp up for Opening Day, though exactly where his stuff sits after a year away from the mound remains to be seen.

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez has Comeback Player of the Year potential Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez prepares to mount his comeback Today is the day, Red Sox Nation! Baseball is back in our lives and it may lo...

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • BOSOXINJECTION.COM

AL East teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Red Sox's Devers agrees to $4,575,000 deal

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year, $4,575,000 deal to avoid salary arbitration with third baseman Rafael Devers

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alex Cora 'Happy' With Eduardo Rodriguez's Progress After COVID-19 Battle - NESN.com Alex Cora is pretty pleased with the progress he's seen from Eduardo Rodriguez, who was sidelined last season due to COVID-19.

DECEMBER 17, 2020 • NESN.COM

Red Sox's Eduardo Rodriguez Throws Off Mound In New Video On Instagram - NESN.com Eduardo Rodriguez is back on the mound after missing all of last season with myocarditis, which was the result of his bout with COVID-19.

DECEMBER 16, 2020 • NESN.COM

On track for Opening Day Rodriguez is on track in his recovery from myocarditis and is lined up to be ready for the start of the 2021 season, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Impact Rodriguez wasn't allowed to exercise in any meaningful capacity last year, let alone play baseball, after developing the condition (an inflammation of the heart) as a result of his battle with COVID-19. While the Red Sox's optimism is very encouraging news, the year off certainly adds risk to Rodriguez's profile this offseason, and the serious nature of the ailment means the team will be very cautious regarding any potential setbacks.

DECEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox agree with Eduardo Rodriguez, but other arbitration decisions could be telling The question is whether or not Matt Barnes will get a contract, as crazy as it would seem for a big-market team to ditch its best reliever r...

DECEMBER 2, 2020 • BOSTONHERALD.COM