Yariel Rodríguez #29

Yariel Humberto Rodríguez...Husband to Gabriela and father to Harold Yariel...Was teammates with Blue Jays prospect Yosver Zulueta in 2017, when they both pitched for Cuba in the Can-Am League...Grew up idolizing fellow Cuban right-hander Vicyohandri Odelin...Signed a five-year, $32 million deal with the Blue Jays on Feb. 9, 2024.

2023

Played for Cuba at the World Baseball Classic, making a pair of starts while allowing two runs over 7.1 combined innings with five hits, six walks and 10 strikeouts...Did not pitch professionally in preparation for a MLB opportunity.

2022

Remained with Chunichi in the 2022 campaign, winning the NPB’s Central League Most Valuable Setup Man Award, after going 6-2 with a 1.15 ERA (7 ER/54.2 IP) across 56 appearances while recording 18 walks and 60 strikeouts.

2021

Spent his second campaign with Chunichi in 2021, pitching in 12 contests in the Central League, recording a 3.65 ERA (25 ER/61.2 IP) with 38 walks and 61 punchouts...Made seven appearances in the Western League posting a 1.64 ERA (6 ER/33.0 IP) with 11 walks and 40 strikeouts.

2020

Signed with the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball League for the 2020 season...Posted a 4.12 ERA (27 ER/59.0 IP) in the NPB Central League across 11 appearances with 21 walks and 67 strikeouts...Made six appearances in the NPB Western League, allowing a run over 22.2 IP while recording eight walks and 18 punchouts...Made three appearances (two starts) for Camaguey in the 2020-21 season, allowing three runs over 14.2 IP.

2019

Spent the 2019-20 season in Camaguey, posting a 3.61 ERA (40 ER/99.2 IP) across 18 appearances (15 starts) while recording 54 walks and 93 strikeouts...Played in the Canadian-American Association Independent League with Cuba for the second time, making three starts allowing five runs (four earned runs) over 12.2 combined innings with six free passes and 19 strikeouts...Pitched for Cuba in the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier 12 event, appearing in two contests where he allowed three runs across 5.0 IP with two walks and five strikeouts.

2018

Began the 2018-19 season with Camaguey, making 11 starts posting a 3.10 ERA (24 ER/69.2) while recording 35 walks and 55 punchouts...Spent the rest of the campaign with Gallos de Sancti Spiritus, where he made 10 starts recording a 3.69 ERA (26 ER/63.1 IP) with 31 free passes and 63 strikeouts...Pitched for Cuba once again in 2018-19, making a start in the Caribbean Series where he surrendered a run, two hits, and a walk across 0.1 inning with a strikeout.

2017

Started the 2017-18 season with Camaguey, making nine starts while posting a 2.88 ERA (18 ER/56.1 IP) with 30 walks and 41 strikeouts...Played the remainder of the season with Lenadores de Las Tunas, recording 3.58 ERA (11 ER/27.2 IP) to go along with 19 walks and 11 punchouts...Pitched for Cuba in the 2017 Canadian-American Association Independent League, appearing in eight games and allowing eight runs over 23.0 IP with 15 walks and 22 strikeouts.

2016

Returned to Camaguey for the 2016-17 season, appearing in 22 contests (14 starts) and posting a 3.61 ERA (38 ER/94.2 IP) with 54 walks and 64 strikeouts.

2015

Started his professional career in 2015, in his hometown of Camaguey, in the Cuban National Series...Appeared in 13 games for the Ganaderos de Camaguey during the 2015-16 season, making six starts with a 2.35 ERA (10 ER/38.1IP), eight walks, and 13 strikeouts.