ProCase 2019 - A Look Back at RHP Christian Rodriguez

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2020 RHP Christian Rodriguez, a Cal State-Fullerton commit, is listed at 6-foot-6, 205-pounds showing a highly projectable long and lean athletic pitchers frame with room for more. Rodriguez finished his 2019 junior season with a 4-2 record (1 save) compiling a 1.59 ERA and 1.101 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 16 walks while allowing 12 earned runs over 52 ⅔ innings pitched for the Orange Lutheran Lancers. Rodriguez displayed his usual advanced feel on the mound with a crisp performance at the SoCal ProCase. Between his highly projectable build and advanced feel on the mound the ceiling continues to rise heading into his senior season ahead of the 2020 MLB draft where he could hear his name called early. 

Rodriguez showed his advanced feel on the mound through repeatable mechanics, plus-balance and command of his pitches. The smooth repeatable delivery is impressive as he is able to consistently keep his body in line and release from the same high ¾ arm slot. The arm works from a medium arm swing with clean release and low overall effort. His lower half shows a repeatable approach with a compact leg kick and strong right leg before driving down the mound and consistently landing in the same spot and in line with his intended target. Rodriguez’s low overall effort makes you wonder if there is more in there right now. 

Rodriguez showed a three-pitch mix consisting of a fastball, curveball and change-up; each with conventional movement and approach. His fastball showed good downward action with some arm-side movement that looks like it gets on the hitter from his above-average height and high arm slot at 87-89 mph. Rodriguez was clocked as high as 93 mph during his junior season. Rodriguez’s curveball broke with 12/6 action from the same release point as his fastball, showing command to both sides of the plate at 71-74 mph. Completing his three-pitch mix is a above-average change-up at 79-81 mph with parachute-esque arm-side fade. 

Rodriguez showed an effective starting pitcher caliber three-pitch mix with command of all three pitches. Neither of them grade out as a plus pitch but each have room for growth as his career progresses and the swing and miss capability of his change-up shows ability to become a plus-pitch. If Rodriguez added a cutter or slider to improve his arsenal and create a different break, tunnel and approach, it could increase his modest high school career strikeouts per nine of 8.77 and decrease his high school career hits per nine of 7.41. Despite the amount of hits, Rodriguez has the ability to produce swing-and-miss results with his present arsenal with each pitch showing high ceiling projection. He’s also proven for three high school season to be one of the most mentally tough pitchers in SoCal by repeatedly getting out of big in-game situations. 

Christian Rodriguez showed why he is arguably the most polished and highest ceiling 2020 pitcher in Southern California with his impressive showing at the SoCal ProCase. He passes the eye test; has advanced feel; and shows extreme projection all creating a premier name to watch heading into his senior season and the 2020 MLB Draft.