Manuel Rodríguez #39

By making his major league debut on July 30, 2021, Manuel became the first Yucatán-born pitcher in Major League history…he spent three seasons in his hometown of Merida playing for Leones de Yucatán in the Mexican League before signing with the Cubs in 2016...His father, Manuel Sr., played in men’s baseball leagues in Merida and inspired his son to pick up the sport…the younger Manuel would accompany his dad to the park every Sunday for men’s league games and the two would often play catch…when his father was busy working as a taxi driver, Manuel’s mother, Rocío Caamal, fill in and throw with him…he began playing organized baseball at the age of 10...After signing Manuel in 2012, Leones de Yucatán wanted to send him to a baseball academy in Monterrey, over 1,200 miles from his family… his father left the decision to his mother…when Manuel told her he wanted to go, she said, “Yo no te traje al mundo paracortarte las alas,” which translates to, “I didn’t bring you into this world to clip your wings.”..The first pitch he learned to throw was a slider, which he father taught him...One of his hobbies is collecting, trading and selling Pokémon cards.

2025

Limited to 31 appearances after undergoing right elbow surgery on Aug. 8, performed by Dr. Keith Meister…was placed on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain on June 11 and made two rehab appearances between July 8-11 before being shut down for the rest of the year…was transferred to the 60-day IL July 22...Set career bests in ERA (2.08) and WHIP (1.05) while matching his career high from 2024 with 11 holds…following his final outing on June 9 at BOS, was tied for second in the AL in appearances (31) and led the Rays bullpen in innings (30.1) and holds (T1st with Edwin Uceta)...Min. 100 BF, his 59.6 ground ball pct. ranked sixth among AL pitchers behind LAA José Soriano (66.0%), NYY Tim Hill (64.2%), KC Angel Zerpa (63.7%). BAL Cionel Pérez (60.9%) and TOR Brendon Little (59.9%)…with the same qualifier, also ranked among AL leaders in barrel rate (4th, 3.9%) and chase rate (13th, 34.6%)...Posted a 1.53 ERA (17.2IP, 3ER) with a .212 (14-for- 66) opp. average in 18 outings vs. AL clubs…min. 15.0 IP, his intraleague ERA was ninth lowest among AL pitchers...Entered with the Rays ahead 12 times, tied five times and trailing 12 times…the club went 17-14 in his appearances, including 9-3 in his last 12… did not permit multiple earned runs in any of his 31 outings...In the eighth and ninth innings, held a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP, 2ER)…posted a 2.64 ERA (17.0IP, 5ER) in all other frames...Limited opponents to a .158 (9-for-57) average on his slider, throwing the pitch a career-high 49.7 pct. of the time, the sixth-highest slider usage rate among AL pitchers (min. 400 total pitches)... Opposing hitters batted .162 (6-for-37) with two outs and .148 (8-for-54) in two-strike counts… batters went 4-for-33 (.121) vs. his slider in two-strike situations...Yielded only 2 HR, good for 0.59 HR per 9.0 IP, lowest on the Rays staff (min. 25.0IP)...Made his first career Opening Day roster...From May 10–June 9, 12 of his final 14 appearances were scoreless…pitched to a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP, 2ER) in that span…recorded holds in six of his final eight outings from May 23 on...Earned his lone win of the year on May 20 vs. HOU, striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning to set the stage for Taylor Walls’ walk-off sacrifice fly…came one day after he took the loss when HOU Jake Meyers tagged him for a game-winning solo homer to lead off the seventh inning.

2024

Set career highs in nearly every major category across two stints with the Rays: April 26–May 20 and July 9–end of season…from July 9 on, led the club with 31 appearances...Min. 35 IP, his 2.15 ERA (37.2IP, 9ER) was 12th lowest in the AL...Of his 40 appearances, 32 were scoreless… allowed multiple earned runs only three times and multiple hits five times…entered in the seventh inning or later in 33 of 40 outings...Pitched on zero days of rest 10 times—his .143 (4-for-28) opp. average in such outings ranked sixth in the AL (min. 25AB)…Min. 25 IP, his 1.63 ERA (27.2IP, 5ER) in night games was sixth lowest in the AL…recorded a 3.60 ERA (10IP, 4ER) in daytime affairs...Permitted only three HR in 37.2 innings (0.72 HR/9.0IP), two of which came on July 23 at TOR…excluding that outing, allowed 0.24 HR per 9 IP over his other 39 appearances...Min. 150 BF, his 2.8 percent barrel rate ranked sixth in the majors, trailing ATL Aaron Bummer (1.3%), NYY Tim Hill (1.7%), STL Chris Roycroft (2.0%), CLE Eli Morgan (2.5%) and TEX Hoby Milner (2.7%)…did not allow a barreled ball in 19 straight appearances from July 24–Sept. 6...Collected 23 of his 34 strikeouts via his slider… held opponents to a combined .172 (17-for-99) average between his slider (14-for-70/.200) and four-seam fastball (3-for-29/.103)…Recorded a 1.78 ERA (25.1IP, 5ER) over 27 appearances vs. AL opponents, tied for the ninth-best intraleague ERA among AL pitchers (min. 25.0IP)…this included a 1.26 ERA (14.1IP, 2ER) against the AL East…had a 2.92 ERA (12.1IP, 4ER) in 13 Interleague appearances...On May 5 vs. NYM, inherited a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third inning…limited the damage to one run after retiring three of four batters faced, including Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil (strikeout)…On May 19 at TOR, tallied a career-high four strikeouts, including back-to-back swinging strikeouts of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to close the outing...From July 28–Aug. 21, recorded a career-best nine scoreless inning streak…did not allow an earned run in a career-best 12 straight appearances from July 24–Aug. 21, ranking among AL leaders (min. 10IP) over that span in WHIP (sixth, 0.64) and opp. average (seventh, .111)…Pitched to a 1.50 ERA (12IP, 2ER) over his final 13 appearances, 11 of which were scoreless...In 23 appearances with Triple-A Durham, went 1-0 with a 1.09 ERA (24.2IP, 3ER) and 28 SO while converting all five of his save opportunities.

2023

Made 15 relief appearances for Triple-A Durham after being acquired from the Cubs on Aug. 1…Went 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA (17.2IP, 6ER) and one save for the Bulls…Was on the seven-day injured list from Aug. 23-30...Prior to the trade, made 35 appearances with Triple-A Iowa, going 2-4 with a 4.42 ERA (38.2IP, 19ER) while recording 13 saves in 14 opportunities…The 13 saves led all Cubs farmhands and his 14 saves overall were tied for second most in the International League...Across 50 appearances, held right-handed batters to a .182/.298/.240 (22-for-121) line compared to .355/.410/.538 (33-for-93) against left-handed hitters...In 15 appearances from June 7–July 29, went 1-2 with a 2.16 ERA (16.2IP, 4ER), striking out 28 batters against two walks during that stretch. 

2022

Manuel in 2022 pitched in his second Major League season with the Cubs, compiling a 2-0 record with four saves along with a 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP) in 14 relief appearances... Began the year at Triple-A Iowa before being recalled and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow strain June 1... Registered one save with a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP), along with 12 strikeouts against two walks, in five outings during rehab assignments with the ACL Cubs and Iowa from Aug. 9-24... Recorded a 1-0 record with one save and a 5.63 ERA (5 ER/8.0 IP) in seven Minor League relief appearances... Earned his first win of the season on Aug. 31 at Toronto, tossing a season high-tying 2.0 scoreless innings... Secured two saves in consecutive outings Sept. 27-28 against the Phillies... Did not allow more than one run in any outing (14 games)...recorded a 1.39 WHIP and a .208 opponent batting average (10-for-48).

2021

In 2021, Manuel made his major league debut, appearing in 20 games out of the bullpen for Chicago, going 3-3 with a 6.11 ERA (12 ER/17.2 IP)... Pitched for the N.L. in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning... Was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on July 30 ... made his major league debut the same night in Washington (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ ER, 0 BB, 2 SO)... Earned his first career save Aug. 4 at Colorado... Recorded his first career win Aug. 18 in Cincinnati (0 ER/2.0 IP)... Pitched to a 0.75 ERA (1 ER/12.0 IP) over 11 appearances from Aug. 10-Sept. 5, including 7.0 consecutive scoreless innings from Aug. 10-23... Was placed on the injured list Sept. 17 and missed the rest of the season with right shoulder inflammation... Went 1-1 with a 1.31 ERA (3 ER/20.2 IP) and five saves over 20 outings between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa.

2020

Manuel suffered a right bicep strain during a Spring Training game, March 1, and missed the season...was recalled from Double-A Tennessee and placed on the 45-day injured list, September 25.

2019

Manuel went 1-3 with two saves and a 3.45 ERA (18 ER/47.0 IP) in 35 relief appearances with Single-A Myrtle Beach...struck out 65 batters and walked only 17 in 47.0 innings, an average of 12.4 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per 9.0 innings, while limiting foes to a .242 batting average...Posted a 1.96 ERA (5 ER/23.0 IP) in 17 outings after the All-Star Break, holding opponents to a .212 average while posting a 1.04 WHIP in that span...On injured list, June 14-27, with a right shoulder inpingement.

2018

Manuel appeared in 32 games with Single-A South Bend, going 3-5 with three saves and a 7.59 ERA (34 ER/40.1 IP)...Struck out 64 batters in 40.1 innings, including a season-high tying four strikeouts in four games...On disabled list, May 30-July 3, with right biceps tendinitis.

2017

In his first season in the Cubs organization, he went a combined 1-0 with two saves and a 3.94 ERA (13 ER/29.2 IP) between Single-A Eugene and Single-A South Bend...Was named Northwest League Pitcher of the Week, July 3-9...struck out nine batters in 6.0-hitless and scoreless innings over two relief outings.