Wandy Rodríguez, a left-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic, spent a decade in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Houston Astros. Born on January 18, 1979, in Santiago, Rodríguez began his professional career when he was signed by the Astros as an amateur free agent in 1999. He worked his way through the minor leagues, honing his skills and developing a reputation for his curveball.
Rodríguez made his MLB debut with the Astros on May 23, 2005. During his rookie season, he appeared in 25 games, starting 22 of them, and posted a 10-10 record with a 5.53 ERA. His performance was a mix of promise and inconsistency, a theme that would follow him throughout his career. Despite the ups and downs, Rodríguez showed enough potential to remain a fixture in the Astros' rotation.
Over the next few years, Rodríguez became a reliable starter for Houston. In 2009, he had one of his best seasons, finishing with a 14-12 record and a 3.02 ERA, along with 193 strikeouts in 205.2 innings pitched. This performance placed him among the top pitchers in the National League that year. His ability to strike out batters and limit home runs made him a valuable asset to the Astros' pitching staff.
Rodríguez continued to be a steady presence on the mound for Houston until 2012, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in July. The trade was part of the Astros' rebuilding efforts, and Rodríguez brought experience to a Pirates team looking to end a long playoff drought. He finished the 2012 season with Pittsburgh, posting a combined 12-13 record and a 3.76 ERA between the two teams.
In 2013, Rodríguez started strong with the Pirates, but his season was cut short due to a forearm injury that limited him to just 12 starts. Despite the setback, he managed a 6-4 record with a 3.59 ERA. The injury woes continued into 2014, and Rodríguez found himself bouncing between the Pirates and the minor leagues, struggling to regain his form.
Rodríguez signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in 2015, hoping to revive his career. He made the Rangers' roster and started 15 games, finishing with a 6-4 record and a 4.90 ERA. However, he was released mid-season and briefly joined the Kansas City Royals organization, though he did not appear in any major league games for them.
Throughout his career, Rodríguez was known for his effective use of a curveball, which complemented his fastball and changeup. His ability to adapt and remain competitive in the league for a decade is a testament to his skill and perseverance. Rodríguez's career statistics include a 97-98 win-loss record, a 4.10 ERA, and 1,281 strikeouts over 1,571.1 innings pitched.
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