Blue Jays’ Rodriguez throws 79 pitches, strikes out seven in triple-A rehab start
Yariel Rodriguez’s return to the majors looks more imminent by the day.
In his sixth rehab appearance with triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, the Blue Jays righty threw 79 pitches in 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out seven while walking three.
The 27-year-old picked up three strikeouts in the first inning using a good mix of fastballs, sliders and curves. Though he struggled a bit more with his control in the second, walking the first two batters he faced, he got out of the jam with two more strikeouts and a fly out to keep his slate clean.
He gave up one run in the third inning after walking the leadoff man but still managed to pick up two more strikeouts to avoid further damage. After giving up a single to start the fourth, Bisons manager Casey Candaele pulled Rodriguez. They would go on to give up 10 runs in a disastrous inning.
Rodriguez threw 45 of his 79 pitches for strikes and topped out his fastball at 96 m.p.h., averaging 93 m.p.h. Though his ERA took something of a hit, it remained at a stellar 1.33 over eight total appearances in triple-A.
The Cuban starter is currently on the injured list with thoracic spine inflammation, but his return will be more than welcome for a Blue Jays team that learned last week that Alek Manoah will be out for the season due to UCL surgery.
Rodriguez had posted a 4.11 ERA over 15.1 innings with 16 strikeouts in four starts with the MLB club before hitting the injured list.
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