Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez clearly hasn't had the career arc that he would have wanted when he jumped from Cuba to the United States before the 2024 season, but that doesn't mean that he can't still contribute to the 2026 Jays.

After all, he's put up an excellent beginning of the season at Triple-A Buffalo.

Signed to a four-year deal (with a team option) before the 2024 season, Rodriguez spent the 2024 campaign as a starter. The righty made 21 starts, but struggled for the last-place Jays, going just 1-8 with a 4.47 ERA. He struck out 85 batters in 86.2 innings, but he also walked 40.

In 2025, Rodriguez switched to a reliever, where he had much greater success. In 66 appearances, he was 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA, striking out 66 batters in 73.0 innings.

Though the overall numbers were good, the overall metrics did not seem to impress Toronto as much, and he was outrighted off the 40-man roster in the offseason.

Even despite all the injury problems for Toronto early in the season, he began the year in Triple-A.

This season in Buffalo? He's got a 3.12 ERA in six appearances, striking out 17 batters in 8.2 innings and showing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that teams value. 

On one hand, the Blue Jays deserve credit for sticking with Rodriguez. Though his lofty salary makes him hard to trade, they could have simply moved him for a small return if they wanted to. They could have released him and moved on, but they elected to keep him in the organization, and that decision might pay dividends at some point.

Rodriguez also deserves credit. He could have easily been a malcontent at his situation, but he's elected to pitch - and pitch well. He deserves credit for being humble enough to do that, and it just might pay dividends for him in the future.

He was an integral part of Team Cuba at the World Baseball Classic this past March, pitching to a 1.50 ERA in three games. He struck out 10 batters in six innings. Cuba failed to make it out of the preliminary rounds.

The Blue Jays will remain out west for a new series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Halos, who have played better this season, are still under .500 at 11-12.

Right-handed Dylan Cease will be on the mound for Toronto in the opener, and he owns a 0-0 record with a 1.74 ERA. Left-hander Reid Detmers will take the hill for the Angels. He's 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA.

It's important to note that Jorge Soler is back in the fold after serving a four-game suspension. He returned on Sunday and will make life more difficult for Cease. 

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