Pirates closer Rodriguez attributes solid start to being in good place mentally, physically

As the hair — on his face and on the top of his head — has grown over the past three years, so has Richard Rodriguez’s role and stature within the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen.

Rodriguez joined the Pirates as a castoff from the woebegone Baltimore Orioles, making his debut in 2018 as a babyfaced rookie who worked himself into a set-up role.

Today, Rodriguez is the elder statesman of the Pirates bullpen, a 31-year-old anointed closer with a bushy beard and dreadlocks that flop and fly with each pitch he throws.

“As an individual, and as even as a ballplayer, I don’t like to be the guy (who is) carrying myself or considering myself to be the leader of the group or the clubhouse,” Rodriguez said Tuesday via team interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “No matter how many years I may have in the big leagues or with this organization, that’s just not my style.

“If anything, I just try to remain the same with my teammates: always being positive, bringing good vibes, good energy, pouring into them in whatever way I can, not by walking around like I’m a hurrah-type of leader or anything like that. I try to remain who I am and make sure that things are being done well.”

In 2021, Rodriguez has pitched very well. He has allowed just two baserunners — one walk and one groundball, two-out single — in 6 1/3 innings over six appearances. A third of the 21 batters Rodriguez faced have struck out, and he has finished five games, earning a win and a save.

“I just feel great,” Rodriguez said from Detroit via video conference call with media before Tuesday’s Pirates-Tigers game was postponed because of wintry weather. “I feel great physically. I feel great mentally.”

Rodriguez made a point to credit the attitude and camaraderie of his teammates and manager Derek Shelton for his success. A more plausible explanation for Rodriguez’s dominance this season is fastball command.

Rodriguez is heavily reliant on his four-seamer, throwing it on 86% of his pitches this season (according to MLB’s Statcast). Opposing hitters have whiffed on the pitch on a third of their swings, despite — or, perhaps in part, because of — the velocity of Rodriguez’s fastball varying from outing to outing.

“I will never forget when I heard an interview by Pedro Martinez where he mentioned that the hardest pitch to hit is a very well-located fastball,” Rodriguez said. “And that’s something that I take pride in.”

Seventy percent of Rodriguez’s pitches this season have been for strikes.

According to Statcast, of the 362 major league pitchers who have thrown a four-seamer this season, only two have averaged more horizontal movement than Rodriguez (6.6 inches). That has helped lead to zero balls vs. Rodriguez being “barreled” this season.

Just two of the Pirates’ seven victories this season have been by fewer than four runs. Rodriguez earned a save and win in each of them, including what was only his third two-inning appearance since 2018 in Sunday’s 6-5, 10-inning win at the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rodriguez insists he is not focused on his role and is willing to pitch in any inning — and for any number of innings — he is asked.

All in all, he is sounding like a veteran major leaguer who is content and secure in where his career stands.

“I’m in a way better place mentally and physically,” Rodriguez said. “I feel very calm, very at peace, very confident when I stand on the mound. The relationships I have with my teammates have helped me out a lot. I feel like I’m at home. I love this team. I love being a part of this organization. We’re having a good amount of success because of the energy and the vibes that we have.”

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