ANAHEIM -- Angels pitching prospect Chris Rodriguez has perhaps the best stuff of any Minor Leaguer in the club’s system and is nearing his Major League debut, so he received some useful training at MLB’s Rookie Program earlier this month.

The program is a joint venture between MLB and the Players Association and helps teach prospects off-the-field skills they'll need to know to succeed in the Majors. This year, the event was held virtually after being in Miami for the past two years. But big leaguers such as Francisco Lindor and Cardinals pitcher Andrew Miller made appearances via Zoom to help give advice to the prospects.

Rodriguez, ranked as the club's No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is the latest Angels prospect to participate in the program, following in the footsteps of Jo Adell, Griffin Canning and Luis Rengifo, among others. Fellow Angels prospects Jahmai Jones (No. 7) and Jose Alberto Rivera (No. 12) also participated this year, as did pitchers Kyle Keller, José Quijada and Gerardo Reyes.

"It was honestly an honor, a huge blessing," Rodriguez said. " I mean, you hear about everybody that goes to this program and comes out of it and that year or the next year, they're in the big leagues. So it was a huge honor to go to the Rookie Program and represent the Angels."

Rodriguez, 22, is on the cusp of reaching the Majors but has battled injuries in recent years. He has thrown just 9 1/3 innings since the 2017 season, as he missed time with back injuries, even undergoing surgery in May '19. But last year, Rodriguez managed to remain healthy while pitching at the club's alternate training site in Long Beach, Calif., and believes he has found the right tools to stay healthy.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Rodriguez said. “Going through this back stuff, it's not the arm or your knees. It's your back, which is your foundation. So when I was hurt, some things hurt and some things didn't, so it was up and down, up and down. At 19, I tried to push through it, but it wasn't it. I shouldn't have played hurt so I got the surgery. And then during rehab, we concentrated on my core and base so I wouldn’t have to worry about my back.”

Rodriguez believes his experience in 2020 will help going forward, as facing hitters at the alternate site was a step up from having only pitched at Class A Advanced Inland Empire in ’19. He did his best to try to learn from others during that instructional time.

“That's the closest I've been to big league side and kind of being able to pick everybody's brain,” Rodriguez said. “And it was a blessing, honestly. Throwing-wise, the hitters I faced are Triple-A or big league guys, and those guys have a different mentality than guys in [Class A] would. And, for one, I was happy just to be healthy. But it was even better being able to go out there and even compete again.”

Rodriguez caught the eye of Angels manager Joe Maddon, who was impressed with his stuff and makeup. He was added to the 40-man roster on Nov. 20 and could make his Major League debut as soon as this upcoming season. The club will likely keep Rodriguez stretched out as a starter to open the 2021 season, but he could debut as either a starter or reliever.

"Watching him deliver the baseball, it’s pretty unique," Maddon said last season. "Great delivery, ball comes out hot, variety of pitches he’s able to command, great pitcher’s body. I know he’s young, but this guy is going to be very good for years to come with good health. Plus, he’s a wonderful young man. Once he gets his feet on the ground and he breathes comfortably here, heads up."