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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Joely Rodriguez Making Impact in Fall League

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Fall League is in full swing and a pitcher you may not have heard of is tearing it up. Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Joely Rodriguez has pitched phenomenal for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

In his six starts, Rodriguez is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.95 ERA. He also has 19 strikeouts in 19 innings of work. The innings may seem really low, but that’s because most starters in the AFL only pitch about four innings at the most.

The 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic was signed by the Pirates in 2009. He has spent the past five seasons playing for the Gulf Coast Pirates, West Virginia Power (Low-A) Bradenton Marauders (High-A) and most recently the Altoona Curve (Double-A). He has compiled a career ERA north of 4.00, but had a fabulous 2013 between Bradenton and West Virginia with a 2.67 ERA. Last year, he struggled a bit in AA, posting a 4.84 ERA with just six wins. That was part of the reason for shipping him off to the fall league.

Rodriguez, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-hander, can get his fastball up to around 95 mph. As a starter, that fastball usually hovers more around the low-90s and upper 80s. He throws a slider and change-up too. So far in the minor leagues, he hasn’t had a lot of swing and miss pitches, but he does produce a lot of ground ball outs. The Pirates would still like to see him as a starter, but some scouts have suggested he may be better suited for the bullpen.

Rodriguez has been overshadowed by prospects like Jameson Taillon, Casey Sadler, Nick Kingham and Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow is not fairing as well in the fall league, but he does have a respectable 3.12 ERA through six starts. He is 1-1 with 18 strikeouts in just over 17 innings.

There is a lot to like about this young left-hander, which many describe to have a “live” arm and raw talent. After his impressive fall league season, I can see Rodriguez making the jump to Indianapolis (Triple-A) next season. If the Pirates suffer any injuries in their rotation, he could find himself making a spot start or two with the big league club. But, he will have a lot of competition with the team’s stockpile of young arms in the farm system.

Nate Vandergrift is a Pirates writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter@natevandergrift, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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