{{Short description|Dominican baseball player (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Wandy Rodríguez |image=20150702-0193 Wandy Rodríguez (cropped).jpg |image_size=240px |caption=Rodríguez with the Texas Rangers |position=Pitcher |bats=Switch |throws=Left |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1979|1|18}} |birth_place=Santiago Rodríguez, Dominican Republic |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=May 23 |debutyear=2005 |debutteam=Houston Astros |finalleague=MLB |finaldate=July 28 |finalyear=2015 |finalteam=Texas Rangers |stat1label=Win–loss record |stat1value=97–98 |stat2label=Earned run average |stat2value=4.10 |stat3label=Strikeouts |stat3value=1,281 |teams= * Houston Astros ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2012}}) * Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2014}}) * Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2015}}) | show-medals=no | medaltemplates= {{MedalSport|Men's baseball}} {{Medal|Country| {{bb|DOM}} }} {{MedalCompetition | World Baseball Classic}} {{MedalGold | 2013 San Francisco | Team }} }}
'''Wandy Fulton Rodríguez''' (born January 18, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros from 2005 to 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2012 to 2014 and the Texas Rangers in 2015.
==Early life== Rodríguez is a native of Santiago Rodríguez, in the North Region (Cibao Region) of the Dominican Republic.
==Major League career==
===Houston Astros=== Rodríguez signed with the Houston Astros organization in January 1999.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McTaggart|first1=Brian|title=Astros ink Wandy, 2 others to Minors deals|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-sign-cabrera-rodriguez-worth-to-deals-c162899884|access-date=August 13, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> In 2001, he pitched for the Martinsville Astros. In 2002, he pitched for the Lexington Legends. In 2003, he pitched for the Salem Avalanche. In 2004, he pitched for the Round Rock Express. He made his major league debut May 23, 2005.
Rodríguez, who concluded with a 10–10 record in his 2005 rookie season, ended the season with a rocky September, going 1–4. Overall, he had a 5.53 ERA and struck out 80 batters throughout the season.
The Astros succeeded in getting to the 2005 World Series in which they were swept in four games by the Chicago White Sox. Rodríguez performed decently in the game 1 of the series, relieving Roger Clemens in the third inning with the score tied at 3. Rodriguez surrendered one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning, earning the loss as the White Sox went on to win, 5–3.<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/B10220CHA2005.htm "Retrosheet Boxscore, October 2, 2005"]</ref> Rodriguez posted a 2.45 ERA for the Series.
left|thumb| Rodriguez pitching for the Houston Astros In 2006, after struggling to a 5.22 ERA, Rodríguez was optioned to the minors on July 21. Brandon Backe was activated from the 60-day disabled list to take his place on the major-league roster and the Astros rotation. However, Rodríguez was recalled on August 19 after Backe had to have Tommy John surgery. Rodriguez finished the season with a 9–10 record and a 5.64 ERA, along with 98 strikeouts in 135 innings.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020919174712/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/7552/index.html Wandy Rodriguez-Stats, Bio at SI.com, October 9, 2009]</ref>
[[File:Wandy Rodríguez on May 3, 2007.jpg|220px|thumb|Rodríguez pitching for the Houston Astros in 2007]] On July 6, 2007, Rodríguez earned his first complete-game shutout in a 4-hit performance against the New York Mets. Rodriguez had his first full healthy season in the majors, as he started and played in 31 games, finishing with a 4.58 ERA and a 9–13 record, along with 158 strikeouts in 182 innings. His BAA was a major improvement, going from .290 of the previous year to .254.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070202170732/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=434643 Wandy Rodriguez Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights at MLB.com, October 9, 2009]</ref>
In 2008, Rodríguez struggled with injuries again, starting only 25 games and pitching only 137 innings. However, his performance was a big improvement statistically, finishing with a 3.54 ERA and a 9–7 record, along with 131 strikeouts and a perfect fielding percentage.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodriwa01.shtml?redir "Wandy Rodriguez Statistics and History at B-R.com, October 9, 2009"]</ref>
Rodríguez had a career year in 2009, after being moved up into the second spot in the Astros' rotation behind ace Roy Oswalt. He started in 33 games and pitched 205 innings while finishing with a 3.02 ERA, which ranked 9th in the NL. He struck out 193, ranking 8th and had his second complete game and shutout of his career.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/6286/wandy-rodriguez "Wandy Rodriguez Stats, News, Photos October 9, 2009"]</ref>
Rodríguez regressed from his 2009 campaign in the first half of 2010, going 6–11 with a 4.97 ERA with only 77 strikeouts in {{fraction|101|1|3}} innings pitched prior to the All-Star break. He turned it around in the second half however, going 5–1 with a 2.11 ERA with 101 strikeouts in {{fraction|93|2|3}} innings, to finish with an 11–12 record with a 3.60 ERA and 178 strikeouts.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=rodriwa01&t=p&year=2010&share=3.97#145-162-sum:pitching_gamelogs "Wandy Rodriguez Pre-All-Star Break Stats 2010"]</ref><ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=rodriwa01&t=p&year=2010&share=3.56#163-176-sum:pitching_gamelogs "Wandy Rodriguez Post-All-Star Break Stats 2010"]</ref>
To begin the 2012 season, Rodríguez was the last Astro (player or coach) remaining from the 2005 squad that went to the World Series.<ref>[http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110825&content_id=23742186&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Astros choose to pull Wandy from waivers] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009230144/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110825&content_id=23742186&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou |date=October 9, 2012 }}</ref> (However, one player, Chad Qualls, re-joined the Astros in 2014 and 2015). On January 26, 2011, he and the Astros agreed to a new three-year contract for $34 million.<ref>[http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110125&content_id=16500472&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Astros lock in Wandy with three-year extension] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209054127/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110125&content_id=16500472&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou |date=February 9, 2011 }}</ref> He finished the 2011 season with an 11–11 record and a 3.49 ERA over 191 innings.
===Pittsburgh Pirates=== On July 24, 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Rudy Owens, Robbie Grossman and Colton Cain to the Houston Astros for Rodríguez and cash.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120724&content_id=35495672&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|title=Pirates add rotation depth with deal for Wandy|last=Singer|first=Tom|date=24 July 2012|access-date=25 July 2012|work=MLB.com}}</ref> Rodriguez's Pirates debut came in Houston, on July 28, 2012, against his former team, the Astros, where he recorded a no-decision.
With Houston, in a deep rebuild, having agreed to pick up part of Rodríguez's 2013 salary, it was reported that Rodríguez was Houston's highest-paid player in 2013 despite having been traded to Pittsburgh.
On May 22, 2014, the Pirates designated Rodriguez for assignment. On May 30, 2014, Rodríguez was released by the Pirates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Wandy_Rodriguez/3504431/pirates-release-wandy-rodriguez|title = Wandy Rodriguez Fantasy - FantasySP}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pirates designate Wandy Rodriguez for assignment|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=10970956|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|access-date=May 24, 2014|date=May 22, 2014}}</ref>
===Texas Rangers=== On December 27, 2014, he agreed to a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/wandy-rodriguez-pittsburgh-pirates-nearing-deal-report|title=Source: Phils, Wandy Rodriguez agree to minor-league deal|work=CSNPhilly}}</ref> However, he failed his physical examination performed by Phillies' doctors, and subsequently signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=Braves sign Wandy Rodriguez to minor league deal|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-sign-wandy-rodriguez-to-minor-league-deal/njm82/|access-date=January 15, 2015|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Braves agree to minor league deal with lefty Wandy Rodriguez|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=12162044|access-date=January 15, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> He was released on April 3.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Braves release Wandy, choose Stults for rotation|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/116178046/braves-release-wandy-rodriguez-choose-eric-stults-for-rotation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405230434/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/116178046/braves-release-wandy-rodriguez-choose-eric-stults-for-rotation|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2015|access-date=April 5, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=April 3, 2015}}</ref>
On April 6, 2015 Rodríguez signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=T.R.|title=Rangers, Wandy come to terms on Minors contract|url=http://m.rangers.mlb.com/news/article/116684298|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113085951/http://m.rangers.mlb.com/news/article/116684298|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 13, 2016|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=April 6, 2015}}</ref> On May 10, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Rodriguez retired 15 straight batters to start the game. Adding on to his previous outing of 19 straight outs in his May 5 start in Houston, he set the Rangers franchise record for most consecutive batters retired with 34 straight.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=T.R.|title=Wandy sets club record by retiring 34 straight|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/wandy-rodriguez-sets-rangers-record-by-retiring-34-straight/c-123526420|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=April 10, 2015}}</ref> After a string of bad starts, Rodriguez was designated for assignment on July 29,<ref>{{cite news|title=OF assists leader Martin sent to minors by Rangers|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=13377482|access-date=August 5, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> and became a free agent on August 4.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rangers switch out relievers, recalling Bass and Jackson|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=13389867|access-date=August 6, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=August 6, 2015}}</ref>
===Kansas City Royals=== On August 16, 2015, Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/k-zone/article31272458.html|title=Royals sign veteran pitchers Joba Chamberlain, Wandy Rodriguez to minor-league deals|last=McCullough|first=Andy|work=kansascity.com|date=August 16, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref> He was released on November 20.
===Houston Astros (second stint)=== On January 26, 2016, Rodriguez signed a minor league deal to return to the Astros.<ref>{{cite web | title=Astros sign lefty Wandy Rodriguez to minor league contract | website=The Washington Times|agency=Associated Press | date=2016-01-26 | url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/26/astros-sign-lefty-wandy-rodriguez-to-minor-league-/ | access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref> He was released on April 5.
===Baltimore Orioles=== On April 29, 2016, Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/04/29/baltimore-orioles-wandy-rodriguez-minor-league-deal|title=Orioles sign Wandy Rodríguez|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=April 29, 2016|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> On June 9, 2016, Rodriguez opted out of his minor league deal from the Orioles, becoming a free agent.
==Name issues== When he was scouted by the Astros in 1998, Rodriguez falsely stated his name was '''Eny Cabreja''' and that he was only 17 years old. He had convinced a friend to let him borrow his identity. The real Cabreja was born on August 18, 1981, while Wandy was born on January 18, 1979. Wandy lived under the name Eny Cabreja until 2002, when he admitted to the Astros that he was in fact Wandy Fulton Rodriguez and that he was not really 21 years of age but 23.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/380197-the-cases-of-wandy-rodriguez-and-miguel-tejada-lying-for-a-better-life|title=The cases of Wandy Rodriguez and Miguel Tejada: Lying for a better life|author=Bertha, Kevin|date=April 17, 2010|access-date=April 17, 2010|publisher=BleacherReport.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl//5752338.html|title=Lying about age not uncommon for Dominican baseball players|author=De Jesus Ortiz, Jose|date=May 4, 2008|access-date=May 4, 2008|newspaper=Houston Chronicle}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Dominican Republic}} * Houston Astros award winners and league leaders * List of Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic {{clear}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commonscat|Wandy Rodríguez}} {{Baseballstats|mlb=434643|espn=6286|br=r/rodriwa01|fangraphs=2586 |brm=rodrig001wan}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{Succession box| before = Tim Lincecum | title = National League Pitcher of the Month| years = July 2009 | after = Chris Carpenter}} {{s-end}}
{{Houston Astros Opening Day starting pitchers}} {{Dominican Republic roster 2013 World Baseball Classic}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Wandy}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Age controversies in sports Category:Águilas Cibaeñas players Category:Altoona Curve players Category:Corpus Christi Hooks players Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Houston Astros players Category:Indianapolis Indians players <!-- Category:Dominican Republic people of African descent--> Category:Lexington Legends players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic Category:Martinsville Astros players Category:People from Santiago Rodríguez Province Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:Salem Avalanche players Category:Texas Rangers players Category:World Baseball Classic players of the Dominican Republic Category:2013 World Baseball Classic players