CLEARWATER, Fla — Phillies left-hander Joely Rodriguez was throwing in a bullpen in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, last December when his cell phone rang.
“You’ve just been traded to the Phillies,” the caller told him.
As happy as that thought made him feel, Rodriguez didn’t believe it was true until he received a second call while driving home, confirming the deal.
“Then I was very happy,” said Rodriguez, who is hoping to make the improbable leap from Double A to the big leagues.
On Friday, Rodriguez turned in his third impressive performance of the spring, holding the Tampa Bay Rays to one hit and an unearned run in pitching the first three innings of the Phillies’ 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was the only run that the the 23-year-old left-hander, who was acquired in December in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo, has given up in seven innings this spring.
“I’m just happy to be with a team that gives me an opportunity to really show what I can do,” Rodriguez said through a translator.
He will likely start the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
“I know the opportunity is here. I’m glad to compete for a spot in the rotation. I’m just trying to be a better pitcher every time out.”
Rodriguez spent the past six seasons working his way up through the Pirates organization after signing his first pro contract at age 17 for $55,000.
Union chief Clark addresses Phils
Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLBPA, spoke to the Phillies before workouts began Friday.
“It was an opportunity to say, ‘Here’s what’s going on with the union,” explained Clark, a former first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, who is touring the spring training camps, answering questions about issues such as the new pace-of-play rules, and grabbing some face-time with his employers, the players.
“Guys are being asked to change habits they’ve had for a long time,” Clark continued, referring to the new scoreboard clocks that record the time between half-innings and the requirement that batters keep one foot in the box.
“Guys are acclimating, hoping to create some new habits, where they don’t have to think about it. Hopefully, as guys get acclimated, there will be less and less dialogue. Once we get into the season, hopefully that will not have to be part of the conversation.”
Asked if a designated hitter in the National League might be on the table when a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated following the 2016 season, Clark smiled and said, “I really don’t know.
“At the end of the day we will go to the players and will determine — if it’s actually proposed — whether or not it’s a consideration the guys want to make, and then we’ll have our bargaining position.”