Miguel Rodriguez excels in 2nd season with Cedar Rapids Kernels, leading MWL in saves

CEDAR RAPIDS — Leading a league in saves isn’t going to give you a sure ticket to the big leagues.

Most of the time, there are no true closers in the minor leagues. Guys are going to pitch on pre-assigned days and for a certain amount of time, no matter the situation in a game.

But that being said, Miguel Rodriguez of the Cedar Rapids Kernels leads the Midwest League in saves. And he’s been pretty impressive doing it.

The 24-year-old right-hander from Maracay, Venezuela, has 14 of them as we hit the home stretch of the regular season. That includes two of them in a six-game series between the Kernels and Lansing at Veterans Memorial Stadium that concluded with a 2-1 Lansing victory.

Cedar Rapids won the first five games.

“I think he has made some progress this season, has had a lot of success for us,” said Kernels Manager Brian Dinkelman. “We feel like he’s got the stuff to close out ballgames. The last three outs of the ballgame are some of the toughest to get, and he had a little experience with it last year at the end of games. The days that he is available and we have a chance to win a ballgame, we’re better off with him out there in the eighth and ninth innings.”

Rodriguez went 2-1 with four saves and a 3.36 earned run average in 39 games last season for the Kernels. He has whittled his ERA to 2.85 in 33 appearances this season, holding opponents to a .212 batting average and going a perfect 14 for 14 in save situations.

He knows all about those numbers, can’t escape them because his mother and father relay them to him every time he talks to them. Which is every day.

“I know,” he said, with the translation help of Kernels coach Jeison Perez. “My family follows me and tells me my stats every day I go on the mound and throw and win. My mother texts them to me.

“They tell me congratulations. They are proud and tell me ‘Don’t forget what you’ve been through, all the moments.’ They tell me to keep working hard, no matter what.”

Rodriguez signed with the parent Minnesota Twins as an international free agent in 2017 and began his professional career the following season. He began primarily as a starter but has been used primarily as a reliever these past two seasons.

His fastball normally sits around 94 to 96 miles per hour, with a few 97s sprinkled in there from time to time. He throws a slider against right-handed hitters and is trying out a changeup/splitter this season to better combat lefties.

“I was facing really hard (hitters) in Venezuela in winter ball,” Rodriguez said through Perez. “I was able to get the job done well there, and that has made me more comfortable here. Being exposed to those situations, I’ve been able to complete the adjustment.”

Rodriguez repeatedly refers to his winter ball experiences last offseason as being a boon. He pitched for and against teams with some major leaguers.

He said he tried to pick the minds of the more experienced pitchers to pick up tips.

“Trying to learn from them how to handle things, little different situations,” he said.

He was asked who is his favorite player from Venezuela. His reply came in English.

“Myself,” he said with a smile.

Sunday’s game was a pitcher’s duel. C.R.’s Cory Lewis gave up just three hits and a walk in six innings, allowing a scratch run in the sixth on a bunt single, runner-advancing groundout and two-out bloop single to short right field.

Lansing got another run in the seventh against reliever Malik Barrington that proved to be the difference. The Kernels’ lone run (and one of only two three hits) came via a Noah Miller solo home run in the eighth.

The league takes Monday off, as always, with Cedar Rapids beginning a series Tuesday night at Quad Cities. The Kernels have a 63-39 overall record, which is a half-game behind Great Lakes for the MWL’s best.

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