After several years defined by injuries and inconsistency, Eduardo Rodríguez developed into a dominant ace and delivered the best season of his career while anchoring the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation.

Arizona’s 2026 campaign ended in disappointment, but the unpredictability of a 162-game schedule still produced several encouraging developments. Rodríguez’s emergence at the front of the pitching staff ranked among the most important.

The Diamondbacks finished 86-76 but missed the postseason for a third consecutive season. 

Despite once again falling short of October baseball, Arizona entered the offseason with legitimate reasons for optimism. Rodríguez’s performance and manager Torey Lovullo’s return provided stability for a team attempting to take another step forward in 2027.

Rodríguez struggled during his first two seasons with the Diamondbacks. He recorded a 5.04 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 50 innings during 2024 before finishing with a 5.02 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 154.1 innings during 2025.

The left-hander also spent substantial time on the Injured List in both seasons. Those absences prevented Arizona from receiving the dependable veteran presence it anticipated when Rodríguez joined the rotation.

Rodríguez arrived at spring training in improved physical condition before the 2026 season, and the benefits became visible almost immediately. He displayed sharper command and a noticeably improved overall arsenal.

The veteran responded with his best season for Arizona and the strongest campaign of his career. Rodríguez went 16-5 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 189.2 innings over 32 starts.

He supplied the front-end veteran pitching Arizona desperately needed while the rest of its rotation experienced considerable instability.

Some of Rodríguez’s improvement may have reflected necessary positive regression after two disappointing years. However, his impact on a team that exceeded preseason expectations cannot be dismissed.

Rodríguez’s ability to remain available changed how Arizona could manage its pitching staff.

He consistently accepted regular turns in the rotation and prevented the Diamondbacks from having to cover another major absence with inexperienced alternatives.

His improved command also allowed his complete arsenal to become more effective. Rodríguez did not need to depend on one approach in every outing.

He could change his plan according to the opposing lineup, respond when hitters adjusted and continue competing without abandoning the strike zone.

Rodríguez’s adaptability will remain essential in 2027. Opponents will study the changes behind his turnaround and attempt to force him back into the mistakes that defined his first two Arizona seasons.

The Diamondbacks should expect Rodríguez to enter next season as their ace, but they should not ask him to carry an unstable rotation by himself. Adding dependable depth would protect both Rodríguez and the rest of the staff.

Repeating a career-best season will be challenging. Nevertheless, his improved conditioning, command, durability and ability to navigate lineups give Arizona reason to believe his transformation can continue beyond one exceptional year.