Félix Antonio Rodríguez (born September 9, 1972) is a Dominican former

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

relief pitcher In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who pitches in the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher has been removed from the game due to fatigue (medical), fatigue, injury, ineffectiveness, ejection ...

Major league career (1996–2006)

Rodríguez was signed by the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

in as a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

, originally as a

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...

. He batted .291 as a catcher, but his arm was so impressive that the organization moved him to the mound in . During the northern hemisphere winter, the Dodgers sent Rodríguez to play for their Australian affiliate the Adelaide Giants in the

Australian Baseball League The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it s ...

in 1993 as part of his pitching development. He began his major league career in with the Dodgers, was on waivers throughout , was picked up by the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

, where he played in . In , he played for the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

, then with the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

from -. He started 2004 with the Giants before being traded to the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

. It was with the Giants that Rodriguez had several crucial postseason failures. In Game 2 of the 2000 NLDS, he allowed a two-run homer to

Edgardo Alfonzo Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo (born November 8, 1973), nicknamed "Fonzie", is a Venezuelans, Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder and Coach (baseball), coach. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) as an infielder from to , most notably a ...

of the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

in the 9th inning and later an RBI single in the 10th inning that won the game for the Mets. In Game Two of the

2002 World Series The 2002 World Series was the World Series, championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s 2002 Major League Baseball season, 2002 season. The 98th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL ...

, Rodriguez gave up a two-run home run to

Tim Salmon Timothy James Salmon (born August 24, 1968), nicknamed "King Fish", is an American former professional baseball player and current Sports broadcaster, sportcaster. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to with the Los ...

of the Angels in the eighth inning that proved to be the deciding blow. In Game Six of the

, he gave up the rally-starting three-run home run to Angels first baseman Scott Spiezio that started the rally that lost the game for the Giants—a game in which the Giants had led 5–0 at one point. The resulting loss is often cited as the decisive turning point in the series. And in the 2003 NLDS Rodriguez gave up a key two out, two run single in Game 4 that eventually proved the difference in the game that won the series for the Florida Marlins. He began with the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

, after being traded from the Phillies for

center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the ...

Kenny Lofton Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. Lofton was a six-time All-Star (1994–1999), four-time Gold Glove Award winner (1993–1996), and at retirement, was ranked 15th among ...

in a one-for-one deal. In

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

, he signed with the

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...

, he was designated for assignment at the end of the season.

Years after Majors (2007–2009)

He signed a minor league deal with the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...

but didn't make the team and was released on March 28. He finished the 2007 season playing for the

Kia Tigers The Kia Tigers () are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982 and based in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Until 2001, they were known as the Haitai Tigers. The Tigers are members of the KBO League and are the most successful ...

in the

Korea Baseball Organization The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO; ) is the Sport governing body, governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. The KBO was founded in 1981 and has governed two leagues: the KBO League () and KBO Futures League ( (F ...

. In , Rodríguez played for the Camden Riversharks in the independent Atlantic League and had a 1.09

ERA An era is a span of time. Era or ERA may also refer to: * Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time * Calendar era Education * Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school * ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia * E ...

in 32 games. In February , he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.Three former Riversharks sign with major league teams
Though he did not make the spring training roster and was released. He returned to the Camden Riversharks for the 2009 season.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Felix 1972 births Albuquerque Dukes players Arizona Diamondbacks players Arizona League Diamondbacks players Camden Riversharks players Cincinnati Reds players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in South Korea Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Great Falls Dodgers players Gulf Coast Dodgers players Indianapolis Indians players KBO League pitchers Kia Tigers players Living people Los Angeles Dodgers players Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic 20th-century Dominican Republic sportsmen Major League Baseball pitchers New Orleans Zephyrs players New York Yankees players Baseball players from Monte Cristi Province Philadelphia Phillies players Potomac Nationals players San Antonio Missions players San Francisco Giants players Staten Island Yankees players Trenton Thunder players Tucson Sidewinders players Vero Beach Dodgers players Washington Nationals players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Australia Adelaide Bite players Criollos de Caguas players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Puerto Rico