Richard Rodríguez #79

Richard Agustin Rodríguez…Wife’s name is Diana Rodríguez, has two kids...Enjoys fishing and cooking in his spare time…Lists Pedro Martinez as his favorite player growing up...Grew up on his family’s farm in the Dominican Republic.

2020

Led the team in both wins (3) and saves (4) - the first Pirates pitcher to do so since saves became official in 1969...His 0.86 WHIP was the fifth-lowest among N.L. relief pitchers with at least 20.0 innings pitched...Produced a career-best 13.11 strikeouts/per 9.0ip ratio...Tied for sixth among National League relief pitchers in strikeouts...Made 11 straight scoreless appearances to end the season and struck out 16 batters in 10.2ip after surrendering a walk-off homer to Eric Sogard in Milwaukee on 8/29...Made season debut on 7/24 at St. Louis and gave up a two-run homer to Paul DeJong in his 1.0 inning of work...Made five straight scoreless outings from 7/27 thru 8/7 (5.0ip)...Pitched season-high 2.0 innings on 8/9 vs. Detroit and suffered the loss...Picked up his first save on 8/23 vs. Milwaukee (second career)...Suffered his only blown save and second loss on 8/29 at Milwaukee...Pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to earn third save in game two of a doubleheader vs. Cincinnati on 9/4...Picked up wins in back-to-back appearances on 9/6 vs. Cincinnati and 9/8 vs. Chicago (AL)...Made his last appearance on 9/23 vs. Chicago (NL) and earned his fourth save in a 2-1 victory.

2019

Led the Pirates and tied for eighth among N.L. relief pitchers with his career-high 72 appearances...Gave up 14 home runs, accounting for 20 of the 30 runs he allowed during the season...Was a member of a Major League Opening Day roster for the first time in his career...Pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his first Major League save on 4/7 vs. Cincinnati...Served up eighth home run on 5/16 at San Diego, a three-run shot to Ian Kinsler, and suffered the loss...Went 0-3 with a 5.49 ERA (19.2ip/14r/12er) in his first 22 games thru 5/16...Was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on 5/17 and gave up a game-tying home run in the ninth inning in his first outing on 5/22 at Louisville; picked up the win as Indy scored game-winning run in the 10th...Made second and final appearance with Indianapolis on 5/24 and picked up the save (2.0ip/0r)...Was recalled to serve as the 26th man for the doubleheader in Cincinnati on 5/27 and pitched in both games (1.1ip/0r)...Was recalled from Indianapolis for good on 5/28...Gave up his ninth home run and four runs total in 1.0 inning of work on 5/30 vs. Milwaukee...Pitched a career-high 19.1 consecutive scoreless innings between 6/2 and 7/19; the longest streak of the season for a Pirates pitcher...Picked up wins in back-to-back appearances on 6/16 at Miami and 6/19 vs. Detroit...Was on the Paternity List from 8/3-5 (baby daughter Richelly was born on 8/3)... Allowed a season-high-tying four runs, including his first home run since 5/30, while being charged with his fifth loss on 8/9 at St. Louis... Was on the 10-day injured list from 8/10 to 8/20 with right shoulder inflammation...Made three scoreless appearances (3.2ip) before giving up two home runs and three runs in a blown save on 8/26 at Philadelphia...Posted a 2.30 ERA (43.0ip/11er) in his final 46 games with the Pirates, dating back to 6/2.

2018

Led all National League rookie relief pitchers in strikeouts and ranked third among all Major League rookie relievers behind Tampa Bay's Ryan Yarbrough (106) and LAA's Noe Ramirez (93)...Set the club record for most strikeouts by a rookie relief pitcher (was 84 by Blas Minor in 1993)...Tied for fourth among all N.L. relief pitchers in strikeouts...Held left-handed hitters to a .155 batting average (18-for-116) and just three extra-base hits...Was scored upon just once in his final 19 appearances, dating back to 8/16 (19.2ip/1er - 0.46 ERA)...Posted a 1.83 ERA (19.2ip/4er) in his 22 games pitching in the seventh inning... Produced a 1.88 ERA (28.2ip/6er) in 30 games against teams from the N.L. Central division...Led the Pittsburgh staff with 11 wild pitches and tied for second in the league in that department...Began season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he made two scoreless outings (5.0ip/1h/2bb/9so)... Was selected by Pittsburgh on 4/13 and made debut with the Pirates on 4/17 vs. Colorado (1.0ip/0r)...Struck out a career-high six batters in 2.2ip on 4/19 at Philadelphia... Suffered loss in the 11th inning on 4/22 at Philadelphia... Had his first career plate appearance on 5/1 at Washington and struck out...Matched his career and season-high with six strikeouts in 2.0ip on 5/6 at Milwaukee; also struck out in his second plate appearance...Had 21 K's in his first 11.1 innings of work after his first eight appearances...Picked up his first Major League win on 5/9 at Chicago (AL)...Was placed on the 10-day D.L. on 6/8 (retro to 6/7) with right shoulder inflammation...Threw 20 pitches in a simulated game on 6/16 at PNC Park...Was reinstated from the D.L. on 6/18...Pitched a career-high 3.0 innings and struck out five batters on 6/23 vs. Arizona...Made 17 consecutive scoreless appearances (18.0ip/30so) between 8/16 and 9/24...Went hitless in two at bats.

2017

Spent entire season with Norfolk (Orioles' AAA) while also seeing first big league action as a September callup... Led the Tides in appearances while also finishing second on the club in saves...Ranked fourth among International League relievers in fewest baserunners per 9.0 innings pitched (9.49) and fifth in fewest walks per 9.0ip (2.00)...Also tied for sixth on the circuit in saves while converting 10 of his 12 opportunities... Made each of his first 12 appearances in relief before making only start on 5/20 vs. Charlotte (3.1ip/3h/6r/5er)...Posted a 1.40 ERA (38.2ip/6er) in his last 27 appearances beginning in June...Recorded each of his 10 saves between 7/1 and 8/30... Had contract selected by Baltimore on 9/1...Made four of his five appearances against the Yankees...Made Major League debut on 9/2 vs. Toronto (1.0ip/3h/4r)...Made final appearance on 9/16 before being designated for assignment on 9/17...Played for Aguilas Cibaenas during the Dominican Winter League.

2016

Among qualifying International League relievers, ranked frst in fewest baserunners (9.54) per 9.0 IP, and second in lowest batting average against (.201) and fewest walks (2.18) per 9.0 IP... On 6/17 vs. Durham, made his frst start since 2012... In 11 July games, went 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA (3 ER/16.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts...In Game 2 of a doubleheader vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre on 8/15, recorded a season-high fve strikeouts over a season-high 3.2 scoreless innings...Combining his starts and relief appearances, held right-handed hitters to a .221 clip (40-for-181) and left-handed hitters to a .208 batting average (25-for-120)...Opponents hit .194 (14-for-72) with RISP