The Phillies, who have not scored in 20 innings, will turn to Jake Arrieta to salvage a game in the series Sunday. He will face rookie Dereck Rodriguez. The son of Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez will be making his first big-league start.
Dereck was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2011, but not as a pitcher. At the time, he was an outfielder, and the plan had been to turn him into a rangy five-tool player. But after three seasons in the low minors, he?d only hit .216/.279/.336. So in 2014, the Twins decided to turn him into a pitcher. It was the right move. In 2015, he had a 2.85 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 12 starts and 66.1 innings pitched, and those stats earned him the honor of being named the Appalachian League?s Pitcher of the Year. Not bad for a guy who?d barely been pitching for a year.
Dereck spent seven years with the Twins after he was drafted, and his contract ran out after the 2017 season. The Giants signed him during the offseason and sent him to their Triple-A team. He?s primarily been a starter, but will work out of the bullpen during his first major league call-up.
Dereck was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2011, but not as a pitcher. At the time, he was an outfielder, and the plan had been to turn him into a rangy five-tool player. But after three seasons in the low minors, he?d only hit .216/.279/.336. So in 2014, the Twins decided to turn him into a pitcher. It was the right move. In 2015, he had a 2.85 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 12 starts and 66.1 innings pitched, and those stats earned him the honor of being named the Appalachian League?s Pitcher of the Year. Not bad for a guy who?d barely been pitching for a year.
Dereck spent seven years with the Twins after he was drafted, and his contract ran out after the 2017 season. The Giants signed him during the offseason and sent him to their Triple-A team. He?s primarily been a starter, but will work out of the bullpen during his first major league call-up.
