| Elvin Rodríguez | |
| Team: | Free agent |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 31 March 1998 |
| Birth Place: | San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 10 |
| Debutyear: | 2022 |
| Debutteam: | Detroit Tigers |
| Debut2league: | NPB |
| Debut2date: | August 9 |
| Debut2year: | 2023 |
| Debut2team: | Tokyo Yakult Swallows |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–4 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 9.55 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 30 |
| Stat2league: | NPB |
| Stat2year: | 2024 season |
| Stat21label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat21value: | 2-6 |
| Stat22label: | Earned run average |
| Stat22value: | 2.77 |
| Stat23label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat23value: | 67 |
| Teams: | |
Elvin Miguel Rodríguez (born March 31, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Rodríguez signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on July 4, 2014.[1] He spent his professional debut season of 2015 with the Dominican Summer League Angels, going 0–6 with a 4.59 over 51 innings. He split the 2016 season between the DSL and the Arizona League Angels, going a combined 4–2 with a 1.53 ERA over innings. He split the 2017 season between the Orem Owlz and the Burlington Bees, going a combined 5–3 with a 2.91 ERA over 68 innings.[2] He was named the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year.[3]
On September 15, 2017, the Angels sent Rodríguez to the Detroit Tigers as the player to be named later in the trade that sent Justin Upton to the Angels.[4] Rodríguez spent the 2018 season with the West Michigan Whitecaps, going 8–7 with a 3.34 ERA over innings.[5] He spent the 2019 season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, going 11–9 with a 3.77 ERA over innings.[6] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] On November 8, 2021, the Tigers purchased Rodríguez's contract, adding him to their 40-man roster.[8]
Rodríguez made the Tigers' Opening Day roster for the 2022 season.[9] He made his MLB debut on April 10, 2022, pitching in relief against the Chicago White Sox. On the season, he made seven appearances for the Tigers (five of them starts), and scuffled to an 0–4 record and 10.62 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched. On November 10, Rodríguez was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens.[10] He elected free agency the same day.[11]
On January 18, 2023, Rodríguez signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.[12] In 10 starts for the Triple–A Durham Bulls, he registered a 3.40 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 45.0 innings of work. On July 7, the Rays selected Rodríguez's contract, adding him to the active roster.[13] He tossed perfect innings against the Atlanta Braves that night in his season debut. The following day, Rodríguez was designated for assignment after it was revealed he had agreed to a deal with a Japanese team earlier in the week.[14] On July 9, Rodríguez was released by the Rays.
On July 13, 2023, Rodríguez signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[15] In 7 games for Tokyo, he posted a 1–5 record and 4.09 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 33 innings of work.
On November 28, 2023, Rodríguez re-signed with the Swallows on a one-year contract worth $750,000 for the 2024 season. [16] He made 32 appearances for the Swallows in 2024, compiling a 1–1 record and 1.80 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 45 innings pitched. On November 21, 2024, Rodríguez and the Swallows parted ways, making him a free agent.[17]