San Diego Padres Fernando Rodney: Time to Believe Again?

By Bill Pivetz | May 6, 2016

May 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) reacts after the last out of a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

After a disappointing 2015 season, Fernando Rodney has been lights out so far this season. Is it enough to warrant picking up off the waiver wire?

In what can only be described as an up-and-down season, San Diego Padres closer Fernando Rodney is off to the best start of his career. After a struggling 2015 season, the Padres took a risk on Rodney after the team traded Craig Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox in the offseason. That looks to be working out so far. So, is it time to believe in Rodney again and add him to your roster?

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We all know the struggles he went through last season. While he recorded 16 saves with the Seattle Mariners, he had a 5.68 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He wasn’t pulled from the closer role until after the All-Star break. This was just one season after he recorded 48 saves and a 2.85 ERA in 2014.

The Chicago Cubs traded for Rodney to add depth to their bullpen. In 14 games, he had a 0.75 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Maybe going to the National League is what he needed to get back on track.

Fernando Rodney has been ungodly out this season. He’s made 11 appearances and is 0-1 with seven saves, 0.00 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. This is unlike any season he’s had in his career. He also has a 9.0 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. He walked more than one batter in an appearance just once. I would jump on the bandwagon now before the wheels fall off and he posts a 5.00 ERA for the rest of the season.

Rodney is inducing ground balls 53.8 percent of the time, the highest since 2012. Opposing batters are pulling the ball greatly, 42.3 percent, and not making hard contact, 23.1 percent. Because he is using his fastball more than last season, 64.3 percent compared to 61.4 percent, and it still clocks in at 94 MPH, batters can’t catch up with it.

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Surprisingly, or not depending on how you feel, Fernando Rodney is owned in just 38.4 percent of ESPN leagues. His ownership percentage has gone up 5.8 percent over the last week. With the amount of saves and performance so far, he should be added without question. Just be sure to cut ties if things start to go south.

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