When Endy Rodriguez got the call on Tuesday that he was being brought up to the majors this week, it felt "like the first" time he ever got that call.
"It was exciting," he said on Wednesday. "I was nervous. Now I'm here."
It's been almost a full year since Rodriguez last played for the Pirates, with his last appearance being on June 6. He played in just 18 games in the majors last season before ultimately undergoing season-ending ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
Asked what he's liked about the way he had been playing in Triple-A Indianapolis to start this season, Rodriguez said, "Being healthy."
"The at-bats I’ve been taking, the way my arm has been feeling," he continued. "A lot of good things have been happening in Triple-A. ... I was trying find the best version of myself. I was doing all the stuff to get back here. Now, I’m back here."
Rodriguez said that his focuses in this opportunity are staying healthy and "help the team however they need." And if all goes well, he said he "hopes it's the last time" he has to work his way back up to the majors.
"You can’t imagine how excited I am to be here, around the guys, around the energy that we have," he said. "It’s one of the greatest things to happen this year."
THE ASYLUM
Rodriguez hopes this Pirates return sticks
When Endy Rodriguez got the call on Tuesday that he was being brought up to the majors this week, it felt "like the first" time he ever got that call.
"It was exciting," he said on Wednesday. "I was nervous. Now I'm here."
It's been almost a full year since Rodriguez last played for the Pirates, with his last appearance being on June 6. He played in just 18 games in the majors last season before ultimately undergoing season-ending ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
Asked what he's liked about the way he had been playing in Triple-A Indianapolis to start this season, Rodriguez said, "Being healthy."
"The at-bats I’ve been taking, the way my arm has been feeling," he continued. "A lot of good things have been happening in Triple-A. ... I was trying find the best version of myself. I was doing all the stuff to get back here. Now, I’m back here."
Rodriguez said that his focuses in this opportunity are staying healthy and "help the team however they need." And if all goes well, he said he "hopes it's the last time" he has to work his way back up to the majors.
"You can’t imagine how excited I am to be here, around the guys, around the energy that we have," he said. "It’s one of the greatest things to happen this year."
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