Francisco Rodriguez (baseball)

Infobox MLB player
name=Francisco Rodriguez

---

width=210
position=Relief pitcher
team=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
number=57
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|1|7
birthplace=city-state|Caracas|Venezuela
debutdate=September 18
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Anaheim Angels
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=23-17
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=2.35
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=587
stat4label=Saves
stat4value=208
awards=
*World Series Champion (2002)
*3x All-Star (2004, 2007, 2008)
*2x Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (2006, 2008)
*Holds MLB record for most saves in a season (2008)
*First pitcher to reach 60 saves in a season (2008)
*Youngest pitcher to reach 50 saves in a season (2008)
*Youngest pitcher to reach 100 career saves (2006)
*Youngest pitcher to reach 200 career saves (2008)
teams=
*Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by|2002-present)

Francisco "Frankie" José Rodriguez (born January 7, 1982 in Caracas, Venezuela), is a Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "K-Rod," Rodriguez is a right-handed relief pitcher who has played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since mlby|2002 and served as their closer since mlby|2005. Rodriguez holds the Major League record for saves in a single season with 62.

Career highlights

2002

Rodriguez signed as an undrafted amateur free agent in by|1998. Originally a starting pitcher, Rodriguez moved to relief pitching in by|2002 after elbow and shoulder injuries shortened his by|2001 minor league season. That same year, he made his major league debut. Because of the multiple injuries to the Angels bullpen, the club picked him up during the middle of September. He emerged as a postseason relief hero on international television, winning five postseason games after never having won a Major League game before. Because Rodriguez had played very little in the Major Leagues, hitters in the playoffs had little idea what to expect from him, a situation that often favors the pitcher. In the ALDS he silenced the Yankees bats, and got two victories with eight strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings. Against the Twins in the ALCS, he went 2-0 with seven strikeouts in four and one-third innings. Finally, in the 2002 World Series against the Giants, he had a 1-1 record with 13 strikeouts in eight and two-thirds innings. At 20 years old, he became the youngest pitcher in 32 years to pitch in the World Series and the youngest ever to win a game.

2003

In 2003, Rodriguez became a setup man. He gave up an earned run in nine of his first 15 games, but rebounded to only allow nine in his last 44 appearances.

=2004= Rodriguez was selected for the All-Star Game and on August 24, 2004, became the sixth pitcher in the Angels' 44-year history to strike out at least 100 batters in a season without starting a game - joining Mark Clear (105 in 1980), DeWayne Buice (109, 1987), Bryan Harvey (101, 1991), Troy Percival (100, 1996), and Scot Shields (109, also in 2004).

2005

Entering the by|2005 season, veteran Angels closer Troy Percival signed as a free agent with Detroit which left the door open for Rodriguez to become the Angels' full-time closer. Rodriguez ended the season tied with Bob Wickman for the American League lead in saves with 45.

2006

Rodriguez improved on his share of the 2005 American League saves title by leading the Majors in by|2006 with 47 saves, one more than the National League leader Trevor Hoffman and six more than American League runner-up Bobby Jenks. On September 10 against the Toronto Blue Jays, he became the youngest closer in Major League Baseball history, at age 24, to accumulate 100 career saves. He accomplished this feat a year younger than the previous record holder, Gregg Olson. Rodriguez was named the DHL Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month for August. [ [http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060913&content_id=1660345&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb "Francisco Rodriguez named winner of the 'DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award' for August," "MLB.com" Press Release, retrieved on 2008-09-10] .] [ [http://www.dhl-usa.com/mlb/deliverymanofthemonth.asp DHL MLB: Delivery Man of the Month ] ]

2007

At the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco, Rodriguez was named as one of three Angels to represent the club, along with teammates Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey. Despite two walks in one-third of an inning, Rodriguez recorded the save as the American League defeated the National League, 5-4.

On September 25, 2007, Rodriguez was named as one of ten finalists for the DHL Delivery Man of the Year Award but lost out to Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox. He finished 2007 with 40 saves in 46 opportunities.

2008

In the 2008 season, Rodriguez received his second career DHL Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award after posting 11 saves in 12 appearances during the month of June. [ [http://www.dhl-usa.com/about/pr/PRDetail.asp?nav=PressRoom/PressReleases&year=2008&seq=1222 "Francisco Rodriguez Named Winner of the DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award for June," "DHL-USA.com" press release, July 9, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-18.] Rodriguez set a major league record by recording his 35th save before the All-Star Break, breaking the previous record of 34 set by John Smoltz in 2003. [ [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels8-2008jul08,0,7588555.story "Francisco Rodriguez earns 35th save in Angels' victory: The closer has the most saves before the All-Star break in major league history," "Los Angeles Times", Kevin Baxter, July 8, 2008.] Retrieved on 2008-09-01.] [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080707&content_id=3086375&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana "Bats arrive early; K-Rod delivers late; Hunter swats two in 28th road win; hurler's 35 saves a record," "MLB.com", Shawn Shroyer, July 8, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-10.] He was a member of the American League All-Star Team for the third time and made a brief appearance in the game, facing two batters while walking one. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_07_15_nasmlb_aasmlb_1&c_id=mlb "Night is Young: AL walks off in 15th; Ranger comes through, Drew MVP in fitting farewell to Stadium," "MLB.com", Bryan Hoch, July 16, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-18.] On August 20, 2008, he set both his and the Angels single season record with his 48th save. [ [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/21/sports/sp-angels21 "Anderson helps Angels beat Rays, avoid sweep," "Los Angeles Times", Mike DiGiovanna, August 21, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-01.]

With his 50th save on August 24, 2008, Rodriguez became the first relief pitcher to reach that number since Mariano Rivera in 2004 and the ninth overall. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3560895 "Most Saves In A Season," "ESPN.com", retrieved on 2008-09-01] .] He was also the the youngest pitcher to ever reach that number at 26 years, 7 months, and 17 days. In addition, he reached that milestone in 129 team games, faster than any pitcher in history. [ [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angfyi27-2008aug27,0,4140098.story "Someone will be odd man out of Angels' playoff rotation," "Los Angeles Times", Mike DiGiovanna, August 27, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-01.] With three saves during the week of August 18-24, including the milestone of number 50, Rodriguez was awarded the American League Player of the Week for the first time in his career. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080825&content_id=3365470&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb "Rodriguez wins AL Player of Week: Righty inches closer to saves record with stellar showing," "MLB.com", Shawn Shroyer, August 26, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-01.]

On September 2, 2008, Rodriguez saved his 200th career game (54th of the season), becoming the youngest player in history to reach that number. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080902&content_id=3406668&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb "Angels keep roaring on the road: Saunders regains his command, backed by Hunter, Guerrero," "MLB.com", Lyle Spencer, September 3, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-03.] On September 10, 2008, while facing the New York Yankees, Rodriguez saved his 56th game of the season and clinched the American League Western Division title for the Angels. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080910&content_id=3450792&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb "Angels beat Yanks, claim West: Rangers' loss clinches Halos' seventh division title," "MLB.com", Lyle Spencer, September 10, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-10.] On September 11, 2008, while facing the Seattle Mariners, Rodriguez saved his 57th game of the season, tying Bobby Thigpen's 1990 major league record. [ [http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080912&content_id=3460504&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana"K-Rod ties record as Halos survive rally: Closer finishes off Mariners to match Thigpen with 57th save," "MLB.com", Lyle Spencer, September 12, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-12.]

On September 13, 2008, while again facing the Mariners, Rodriguez recorded his 58th save of the season, setting a new MLB record. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080913&content_id=3471591&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb "K-Rod nabs single-season saves mark: Angels closer breaks Thigpen's 18-year record with No. 58," "MLB.com", Lyle Spencer, September 13, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-13.] On September 20, 2008, Rodriguez became the first pitcher to reach 60 saves in a season when he closed out a 7-3 victory against the Texas Rangers. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080920&content_id=3518328&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana "K-Rod saves No. 60 in Angels' win: Angels closer moves closer to Cy Young consideration," "MLB.com", Shawn Shroyer, September 21, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-21.]

On September 24, 2008, Rodriguez was named as one of the ten finalists for the DHL Delivery Man of the Year Award for the second time in his career. [ [http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080924&content_id=3543289&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana "K-Rod makes history, up for DHL honor: Delivery Man of the Year votes would reward MLB saves mark," "MLB.com", Rhett Bollinger, September 25, 2008] . Retrieved on 2008-09-26.] He finished the 2008 regular season with 62 saves in 69 opportunities, appearing in a total of 76 games. It was his fourth consecutive season of recording at least 40 saves. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=408061&statType=2 Francisco Rodriguez career statistics located at "MLB.com"] ]

2009

Rodriguez is currently a free agent for the 2009 season and thinking of where he wants to go. He has shown interest in staying with the Angels but concerned that there are 6 or 7 other free agents on the Angels' current roster. Mike Scioscia has stated that it is hard to keep everyone.

Pitches

Rodriguez throws a fastball that has consistently reached 94-97 mph (151-156 km/h), but generally throws it away from the strike zone to get batters off balance. However, unlike many closers, he utilizes the breaking ball as his primary pitch. His breaking ball comes in two varieties—a hard curve which appears to be a strike and suddenly breaks down and out of the strike zone (often confused with a slider), and a slower, looping, more traditional curve which makes right-handed batters' knees buckle before breaking back into the strike zone. Since his faster curveball breaks so sharply into the dirt, it at times makes him vulnerable to throwing wild pitches. Rodriguez has thrown a circle changeup since the 2006 season and uses it as a strikeout pitch against left-handed batters.

Personal life

Rodriguez's nickname of "K-Rod" became quickly popular during late September 2002 and the playoffs. It is a take-off on "A-Rod," the nickname of baseball star Alex Rodriguez, with "K" representing the common abbreviation for strikeout.

Rodriguez is a practitioner of Santería and is Catholic. [ [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-santeria26jun26,1,4164424.story?coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=2&cset=true "Religion under wraps," "Los Angeles Times", Kevin Baxter, June 26, 2007] . Retrieved on 2007-06-28.]

=See also=
* List of Major League Baseball saves champions
* List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

* [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/angelstop03.html Baseball America (report)]
* [http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=1816 DugoutCentral.com Scouting Report]
*http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081008&content_id=3604257&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana
*http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081008&content_id=3604764&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=anasuccession box
title = American League Saves Champion
years = 2005-2006(2005 with Bob Wickman)
2008
before = Mariano Rivera
Joe Borowski
after = Joe Borowski
Incumbentsuccession box
title = American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award
years = 2006
before = Mariano Rivera
after = J.J. Putz
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