Henry Alberto RodrÃÂguez (born February 25, 1987) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins.
RodrÃÂguez began his professional career in 2006, with the Arizona League Athletics. With them, he went 5âÂÂ2 with a 7.42 ERA in 15 games (four starts), striking out 59 batters in 43 innings of work.
In 2007, he went 6âÂÂ8 with a 3.07 ERA in 20 games (18 starts), striking out 106 batters in 99 innings for the Kane County Cougars. He split the 2008 season between the Stockton Ports and the Midland RockHounds, finishing with a 4âÂÂ10 record and a 5.20 ERA in 34 games (22 starts), while striking out 147 batters in 116 innings of work.
RodrÃÂguez made his major league debut in the 8th inning of the September 21, 2009 game against the Texas Rangers, where he gave up two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out one.
On December 16, 2010, RodrÃÂguez, along with outfielder Corey Brown, was traded to the Nationals in exchange for Josh Willingham. RodrÃÂguez appeared in 59 games in the 2011 season and earned a 3âÂÂ3 record with a 3.56 ERA and 70 strikeouts.
RodrÃÂguez was given an opportunity to close games for the Nationals in 2012 with regular stopper Drew Storen on the disabled list, but bouts of wildness led manager Davey Johnson to move RodrÃÂguez out of the role by the end of May. He continued as a reliever, and pitched in 35 games in 2012, finishing with a 1âÂÂ3 record, a 5.83 ERA, and 9 saves.
After pitching in 17 games with a 4.00 ERA in 2013, RodrÃÂguez was designated for assignment on June 4, 2013.
On June 11, 2013, RodrÃÂguez was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right handed pitcher Ian Dickson. He was designated for assignment on July 14, clearing a spot on the active roster for Cole Gillespie. In five games, he walked four over four innings, striking out one with a 4.50 ERA.
RodrÃÂguez signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on January 16, 2014. He was designated for assignment on May 14, 2014. RodrÃÂguez made 17 appearances for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, compiling an 0-1 record and 4.26 ERA with 41 strikeouts and one save across innings pitched. On June 12, the Marlins released RodrÃÂguez.
RodrÃÂguez signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on June 13, 2014. He was released a month later after walking eight batters in less than two innings for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.
RodrÃÂguez signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on January 22, 2015. He was released prior to the start of the regular season on March 31.
RodrÃÂguez is known for a hard four-seam fastball averaging 98 mph over the course of his career. It tends to sit between 96 and 100 mph, reaching as high as 103 mph. A 103.2 mph fastball which he threw on September 15, 2010, was the third-fastest pitch ever recorded by PITCHf/x at the time. His secondary pitch is a curveball (83-85 mph), and a seldom thrown changeup.
RodrÃÂguez's prowess has been hampered by a high walk rate of 5.6 per 9 innings. He also led the National League in wild pitches in 2011, and is leading the league again in 2012 despite having thrown only 21 innings. In the he has pitched since the beginning of the 2011 season, RodrÃÂguez has thrown 23 wild pitches.