Rich Rodriguez is a former professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on March 1, 1963, in Downey, California, and attended El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California. Rodriguez was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1984 MLB draft and began his professional career in the minor leagues.
Rodriguez made his MLB debut with the Padres in 1990 and played for them until 1993. He then played for the Houston Astros from 1994 to 1995, the Detroit Tigers in 1996, and the Texas Rangers from 1997 to 2002. He finished his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2003.
Throughout his career, Rodriguez was primarily used as a relief pitcher and was known for his ability to throw a variety of pitches, including a fastball, curveball, and slider. He was also known for his durability and consistency, as he appeared in over 70 games in six different seasons.
One of Rodriguez's most memorable moments came in the 1999 season when he was playing for the Texas Rangers. On August 11, he pitched a perfect game against the Detroit Tigers, becoming only the second pitcher in MLB history to accomplish the feat in a nine-inning game. Rodriguez retired all 27 batters he faced, striking out ten of them.
Overall, Rodriguez had a successful career in MLB, appearing in 802 games and finishing with a record of 47-43 and an ERA of 3.55. He recorded 62 saves and struck out 637 batters in 870.2 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Rodriguez worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams, including the Spokane Indians, the Clinton LumberKings, and the Everett AquaSox. He also served as the pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners from 2011 to 2013.
In conclusion, Rich Rodriguez had a successful career as a relief pitcher in MLB, playing for several teams over the course of his career. He was known for his durability, consistency, and ability to throw a variety of pitches. His most memorable moment came in 1999 when he pitched a perfect game for the Texas Rangers. After retiring from baseball, Rodriguez worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams and the Seattle Mariners.
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