To some, the news of 22-year-old pitcher Chris Rodriguez making the Opening Day roster may come as a surprise.

Rodriguez, the organization¡¯s No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hasn¡¯t seen a lot of action at the Minor League level.

The right-hander from Miami has thrown a total of 77 2/3 innings in the Minors since being drafted by the Angels in the 4th round in 2016. He also hasn¡¯t pitched above Class A Advanced. He saw his last game action in 2019 for the Inland Empire 66ers.

But, after impressing the organization this spring, Rodriguez will be making his first Opening Day roster as a part of the Angels' revamped bullpen.

Rodriguez said the news of making the Opening Day roster was something he¡¯ll remember forever.

¡°I couldn¡¯t even tell you how the conversation went,¡± Rodriguez said. ¡°Once [manager Joe Maddon] said I made the team, I completely blacked out. It was such a blessing, I went back and called my family and cried. It was a day I¡¯m never going to forget.¡±

Rodriguez enjoyed a healthy spring. He pitched seven innings and struck out 10 batters. Despite having a 5.14 ERA this spring, Rodriguez demonstrated quality stuff in Cactus League play. His fastball touches the mid-90s and his arsenal features a tailing two-seam fastball.

Maddon said there is a lot of potential for Rodriguez to succeed at the Major League level, adding that the team will need to monitor Rodriguez¡¯s usage.

¡°There¡¯s a lot of confidence in [Rodriguez],¡± Maddon said. ¡°It¡¯s going to require attention. Not to the point to where it¡¯s overbearing or annoying. It¡¯s just that you got to pay attention to a young guy breaking in like this.¡±

In his Minor League career, Rodriguez has a 4.75 ERA in 24 appearances. He¡¯s also struck out 86 batters over that span.

Maddon said Rodriguez meets the requirements to be an impact arm for the Angels bullpen.

¡°He checks all the boxes,¡± the Angels manager said. ¡°The one he doesn¡¯t is maybe the experience box and date of birth, but everything else is in order.¡±

Rodriguez said he¡¯ll be ready no matter what capacity the Angels decide to use him in.

¡°I¡¯m here to win ballgames, and if I have to come in in pressure spots in huge games, then I¡¯m going to come in and do my job and I¡¯m going to help the team win,¡± Rodriguez said.