3 Detroit Minor-Leaguers Who Could See a Promotion Soon

Number Three: Elvin Rodriguez

Elvin Rodriguez has been a major spark for the Erie SeaWolves’ pitching staff this season, and it begins to raise questions surrounding how much longer the 23 year old right-handed pitcher will be in town. As a contributor from Erie, all the buzz around town has been about two guys; Riley Greene and Elvin Rodriguez. Rodriguez, oddly enough, was never drafted into the MLB but was added via a trade with the Los Angeles Angels back in 2017.

Elvin Rodriguez has been lights out in Erie this season and it’s hard to believe he’ll stick around for much longer. Rodriguez, prior to his last start, had two consecutive starts where he didn’t allow a base hit and he has been the ace of a rather efficient Erie pitching staff this season. Rodriguez has pitched 19.1 innings this season and has posted an earned run average of just 1.40 (good for second in the Double-A Northeast) and a WHIP of just 0.78.

Rodriguez has also posted a strikeout to walk ratio of 23 to 7, and he could be in line for a promotion to Triple-A in the near future. Elvin Rodriguez may not be a top 30 Detroit Tigers prospect according to the MLB, but he could wind up being one of the most underrated and promising pitchers to gain promotion to the big leagues for the Tigers in quite some time. I wouldn’t rule out a potential Elvin Rodriguez big league debut in 2021.