With Corbin Burnes nearly a certainty to be dealt in the offseason and the potential for Brandon Woodruff to be dealt also, Milwaukee is going to need pitching ASAP. However, there isn’t much in the cupboard other than Robert Gasser and Jacob Misirowski for the Brewers system nearing a call-up. Well, until the rise of Carlos F. Rodriguez, who continues his strong performances on the mound – and with it -is shooting up the Brewers’ prospect list.
Rodriguez rise up Brewers prospect list
Carlos Rodriguez burst onto the Brewers’ prospect list radar in the midst of a stellar 2022 season in which he was ultimately named Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He entered 2022 hovering around 20 on the Brewers’ prospect list.
I have mentioned him here once before to keep an eye on him. Well, @TimberRattlers pitcher and @Brewers No. 19 prospect Carlos Rodriguez tossed 6 perfect innings last night and picked up the win. He's 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA in Appleton and 6-5, 2.89 ERA across CAR and APP. #Brewers
— Mitchell Skurzewski (@MSkurzewski) September 4, 2022
The 6-foot right-handed pitcher, from Rivas Nicaragua led qualified Milwaukee affiliate-ball Minor Leaguers in WHIP (1.06), opponents’ average (.195), strikeout rate (30.1 percent) and FIP (3.54) over 107 2/3 innings at Single-A (Carolina) and High-A (Appleton) a season ago.
Your 2022 Robin Yount Performance Award winners!
OF Jackson Chourio was named Player of the Year after he hit .288 with 20 HR, 75 RBI, 75 runs and 16 SB across 3 levels.
RHP Carlos Rodríguez was named Pitcher of the Year after posting a 3.01 ERA & 129 Ks over 107.2 IP. pic.twitter.com/z9vkMi3F0c
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 4, 2022
Milwaukee grabbed Rodriguez in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Florida SouthWestern State College. His pitching profile was a bit murky, but the right-hander has continued to work on his craft, increasing velocity and trying to add a better breaking ball to his repertoire. Rodriguez already possesses a nasty changeup.
According to his MLB Prospect Pipeline profile, “his mid-80s changeup draws the strongest reviews with impressive fade, and that helped him keep lefties to a .551 OPS in 2022.”
Rodriguez continues to impress
He followed up his stellar 2022 with an appearance for his native Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic before this season, which included a strong performance against Puerto Rico. Rodriguez tossed four innings of one-run ball against a lineup that included Francisco Lindor and Javy Baez.
Now this season, Rodriguez, 21, has done nothing to slow down his ascent up the prospect list.
After his strong 2022 year, Rodriguez is now a top-10 prospect in Milwaukee’s system following the graduations of rookies Joey Weimer and Garrett Mitchell.
This season, Rodriguez, now the Brewers’ 7th ranked prospect) is cementing his status as a top Brewers prospect. In fact, Rodriguez was named Southern League Pitcher of the Month in July.
A few notables from Brewers new top 30!
Carlos Rodriguez 7
Brock Wilken 8
Luis Lara 9
Cooper Pratt 10
Eric Bitoni 13
Yophery Rodriguez 15
Josh Knoth 16
Mike Boeve 18
Hendry Mendez 29
Ethan Small 30 https://t.co/lO5BvwolGe— Tyler Koerth (@TylerKoerth) August 11, 2023
He’s been strong all year, but in July, Rodriguez had four appearances, spanning 18.1 innings and allowed just two (both earned) runs good for a 0.98 ERA. Rodriguez had a .927 WHIP and struck out 24 in those 18.1 innings.
Rodriguez’s numbers on the year are sparkling with a 7-5 record, 2.73 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with batters hitting just .179 against him. Rodriguez has struck out 11.4 batters per 9 innings with 133 Ks in 105.1 innings. His only bugaboo is walks as he has surrendered 49 walks but just 68 hits.
July Pitcher of the Month: Carlos Rodriguez
In 4 July starts, Rodriguez surrendered only 2 runs while striking out 24 batters. Among Double-A pitchers on the season, Rodriguez ranks 2nd in K% (31%), 5th in Ks (118), and 8th in K-BB% (20%)#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/OLU8hKvqa3
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) August 9, 2023
We could be seeing Rodriguez in the bigs soon
If Rodriguez could become a top-tier starter with the big league club it would be a boon for the Brewers. Rodriguez continues to improve his arsenal each season and is on track to be in Milwaukee perhaps late in 2024. He’s added some velocity in the pros and now sits in the low 90s — touching 95. With a standout changeup, if Rodriguez can get his slider locked in, look out. While was viewed by MLB scouts as a number 5 pitcher when drafted, but with what he has shown in the minors, the Brewers have much higher aspirations for Rodriguez.
