How Eduardo Rodriguez's star turn in the WBC final is carrying into the MLB season
Eduardo Rodriguez entered the Arizona Diamondbacks’ dugout at Citi Field this week with a quiet confidence that stems from a performance that will be remembered as the game of his life.
Four weeks earlier, the 33‑year‑old right‑hander threw a 4 1/3‑inning shutout of the United States in the World Baseball Classic final, securing Venezuela’s fourth consecutive championship.
Rodriguez allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out four batters on 57 pitches, a number that matches the uniform he has worn all season in honor of former Venezuelan pitching coach Johan Santana.
“We have had this discussion a little bit the last couple of weeks, about which is the No. 1 sport in Venezuela,” Rodriguez said, noting that the streets were filled with celebrants after the WBC victory.
Soccer remains popular, but the post‑tournament scenes convinced many that baseball now holds the top spot in his homeland.
Venezuela’s dominance in the WBC mirrors the nation’s rich baseball heritage, which has produced stars such as Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera, Félix Hernández, Magglio Ordóñez, Francisco Rodríguez and Johan Santana.
Unlike the earlier squads, the 2023 team was the first to reach the title game, and Rodriguez, the oldest pitcher on the roster, was called upon in the decisive moment.
“I was not nervous, just excited,” he reflected, adding that his experience in World Series games helped him stay calm.
The fastball‑heavy approach he displayed against the Dominican Republic five days earlier—where he surrendered three runs in 2 2/3 innings—was replaced with a more varied arsenal in the final.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo observed that Rodriguez’s adjustment was guided by a conversation with pitching coach Brian Kaplan and a pep talk from teammate Salvador Pérez.
“It looked like he was just up there trying to beat everybody with his fastball,” Lovullo said, noting the shift to a rhythm‑based delivery.
Rodriguez’s performance in the WBC has translated into a strong start to the MLB season, as he has used his fastball on less than 30 percent of pitches—a stark contrast to his career average of 46.4 percent.
Through his first two starts, he has logged 12 scoreless innings, allowing just one earned run and posting a 0.50 ERA.
Below is a snapshot of Rodriguez’s early 2024 MLB statistics compared with his career averages.
| Metric | 2024 Season | Career Average |
|---|---|---|
| ERA | 0.50 | 5.02 |
| Fastball % | 29% | 46.4% |
| WHIP | 0.83 | 1.38 |
His first victory of the season came against the New York Mets, where he surrendered five hits and one run over six innings.
The matchup echoed the WBC final, but this time Rodriguez was unrestricted by pitch‑count limits, allowing him to showcase a fuller repertoire.
Although he has never completed a 9‑inning start in his 238‑career outings, he has carried a perfect game into the seventh inning and a no‑hit bid into the eighth on separate occasions.
“That’s the best game I’ve ever pitched in my life, because of the meaning to my country,” Rodriguez said, emphasizing the pride he feels when representing Venezuela.
Rodriguez attributes much of his development to Johan Santana, whose mentorship began when Rodriguez was a top prospect in the Orioles organization.
Santana, a 12‑year veteran who wore No. 57 for the Mets and attempted a comeback with the Orioles, inspired Rodriguez to adopt the same number as a tribute.
“(Santana) was my mentor back then,” Rodriguez explained, noting that the lessons on pitch sequencing and mental composure resurfaced during the WBC final.
The Diamondbacks signed Rodriguez to a four‑year, $80 million contract after their 2023 pennant run, hoping his veteran presence would stabilize a rotation that posted a 12‑13 record and a 5.02 ERA in his 39 starts for Arizona.
Early in his career, Rodriguez admitted to pitching with emotion, often choosing the pitch he wanted rather than the one dictated by his game plan.
“Pitching with emotion sometimes is hard because sometimes that’s not the right pitch,” he said, indicating a shift toward a more analytical approach.
His recent success suggests that the lessons from Santana and the WBC have taken root, as he now relies on a balanced mix of fastball, slider, changeup and cutter.
Beyond Rodriguez, the WBC’s impact on baseball’s global perception continues to be a topic of debate, highlighted by former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s comment that only players who have not appeared in a World Series claim the tournament is bigger.
Rodriguez offers a nuanced view, stating that the World Series is a job, while the WBC is about national pride.
“When you play for pride, you play with all the pride that you have in you,” he said, underscoring the emotional weight of international competition.
While the WBC garners attention, other baseball stories unfold, such as the recent passing of Davey Lopes, a former player and renowned base‑stealing mentor.
Lopes, who died at 80, helped the Philadelphia Phillies secure four straight division titles (2007‑2010) and a 2008 World Series championship, emphasizing aggressive baserunning.
During his tenure, the Phillies posted an 84.3 percent success rate on stolen bases, ranking fourth overall in the league.
Chase Utley, coached by Lopes, achieved a 92.1 percent success rate, stealing 59 of 64 attempts in that period.
In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals have struggled to find consistency, as evidenced by starter Dustin May’s difficult start to the season.
In two outings, May has surrendered 17 hits and 13 earned runs, both resulting in losses.
May’s uniform change from No. 85 to No. 3 after joining the Cardinals reflects a symbolic shift, though the number’s historical significance is limited.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals have highlighted homegrown talent, with 22‑year‑old Carter Jensen emerging from the organization’s youth programs to share DH and catcher duties.
Jensen, who grew up attending games at Kauffman Stadium and idolized players like Salvador Pérez, signed with the Royals after being drafted, citing familiarity with the franchise’s staff.
His connection to the community underscores the importance of local pipelines in sustaining fan interest and team identity.
In a broader context, baseball’s outreach efforts continue with MLB’s launch of the “MLB Clubhouse” YouTube channel, aimed at introducing the sport to children through kid‑friendly content.
The initiative, however, omits nostalgic elements such as the 1980s “Baseball Bunch” series featuring Johnny Bench and the Kool‑Aid Man, a reminder of the sport’s cultural legacy.
Overall, Rodriguez’s WBC heroics have not only reinforced his personal brand but also highlighted the symbiotic relationship between international success and MLB performance.
As the Diamondbacks look to improve upon a sub‑.500 record, Rodriguez’s disciplined pitch selection and renewed confidence could serve as a catalyst for a more competitive rotation.
For Venezuela, the WBC victory reaffirms baseball’s status as the nation’s premier sport, a sentiment echoed by fans who flooded the streets after the final.
Rodriguez’s journey—from a young prospect mentored by Johan Santana to a World Champion pitcher—exemplifies the enduring impact of mentorship, national pride and strategic adaptation in modern baseball.
