Longtime reliever Fernando Rodney turns 47 in two months. However, the main person concerned does not want the story of his career to be written in full just yet.
He may no longer be in the MLB now, but he hasn't given up on his dream of stepping on a major league mound again, as he still believes he has something left in his tank, and as long as it will, he has no intention of stopping.
I'm trying to reach 50. That's what I think at the moment. I still hit 95, 94, 93, 92 miles an hour whenever I want. I think it could be three more years. I want to get there and then see how I feel.
During his career, Rodney recorded 327 saves, being selected to the All-Star Game three times and winning a World Series ring.
However, the right-hander last pitched in major league baseball for the World Series champion Washington Nationals in 2019, when he signed a contract mid-season after being released by the Oakland A's .
Then 42 years old, Rodney had maintained a 4.05 ERA in 33 1/3 innings of work, with two saves. His fastball velocity averaged 93.8 miles per hour at that point.
Rodney then signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros in 2020, but was later released.
Since then, he has had stints with the Toros de Tijuana, the Leones de Yucatan and the Diablos Rojos de Mexico of the Mexican League over the past three years.
And that gives him the energy to continue dreaming.
When I go on the field now, with a lot of young guys, I get energy. I feel like I have gas in my tank.
We wish him the best of success.
