E-Rod 'so excited' to return after COVID-19

BOSTON -- For Red Sox ace Eduardo Rodriguez, just being able to walk through the gates of Fenway Park on Saturday was a moment to savor.

“After all I went through, I feel so happy even when I got here yesterday, just to walk inside Fenway Park,” Rodriguez said in a Zoom call on Sunday. “I was so excited to be back with my team, my teammates, everybody here.”

Testing positive for COVID-19 just as Summer Camp was close to starting was a tough blow for the left-hander, who was supposed to make the first Opening Day start of his career this season. But not pitching the opener has been cushioned by the fact Rodriguez feels like himself again.

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Unlike some fortunate others, Rodriguez’s COVID-19 ordeal was not asymptomatic.

“I was one of those people to get hit really hard,” Rodriguez said. “So I would say you have to wear your mask all the time. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Because if you’re one of those [people] who gets hit really hard, you’re going to be in bed and having a hard time doing day-to-day stuff like going to the kitchen or taking a shower, things like that. You’re going to have a hard time.

“You better be safe all the time. That’s what I got.”

Rodriguez said the virus pretty much knocked him off his feet at his Florida home for about 14 days.

“I mean, for me, I was feeling all the symptoms -- all the symptoms you can see on Google,” Rodriguez said. “I was feeling headaches, fever, all that. It hit me really hard.”

At the age of 27, the supposed prime of his life, Rodriguez couldn’t believe how bad he felt when the virus hit him the hardest.

“I’ve never been that sick in my life, and I don’t want to get that sick again,” Rodriguez said. “I would say the first four days were the worst days. I felt all the symptoms, woke up in the morning, got out of bed and felt like I was 100 years old. My body was tired all the time, throwing up, headaches, all the symptoms. But it was the first four days I had it all. After that, it started going away and I started feeling better.”

Once Rodriguez started feeling better, he resumed throwing -- albeit by himself at his home against a net. That at least served its purpose of rebuilding his arm strength. Rodriguez’s first day at Summer Camp was on Saturday, and he threw a 25-pitch bullpen session.

Rodriguez is on the injured list, and Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound on Opening Day.

It’s too early to say when E-Rod, who broke out with 19 wins last season, will be able to reclaim his spot at the top of the rotation.

“I think we’re just trying to build up his strength again,” Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. “But I know he was really happy when he got the news that he could come and join the team, and certainly happy when he stepped on the field. He’s on a mission now to get himself in shape as fast as he can, and we get his arm built up and be active as fast as we can.”

Once Rodriguez does come back, he won’t be holding back. He is ready to do his part in this sprint of a season.

“I mean, for me, I feel like this is kind of like winter ball, 60 games,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve just got to play hard and do the best we can do. Like I say, 60 games, short season, you just have to have a good start and keep it rolling.”