The Hamilton Cardinals have made a “vital” addition to their lineup with the signing this week of former Main League Baseball all-star pitcher Fernando Rodney for the 2025 season.
Rodney’s storied profession spans 17 years within the MLB, throughout which he donned the jerseys of 11 groups, together with the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners. The 47-year-old brings “management” and much more to the Hamilton workforce, proprietor Eric Spearin mentioned.
The Cardinals are one in every of 9 groups within the Intercounty Baseball League in Southern Ontario.
“Our league is often made-up of baseball gamers which will have made the key leagues, just like the Blue Jays … so the truth that we signed Fernando Rodney is critical,” Spearin informed CBC Hamilton through phone from the Dominican Republic — Rodney’s house nation.
“He is been an all star, World Sequence champion. He is gained the World Baseball Basic, he is referred to as one of many biggest all-time baseball gamers.”
Rodney is a three-time All-Star, in 2012, 2014, and 2016. In accordance with a media launch from the Cardinals, Rodney’s “best season” was in 2012 whereas with the Tampa Bay Rays.
“That yr, Rodney set a franchise document with 48 saves and posted a unprecedented 0.60 [Earned Run Average, or ERA] over 74.2 innings pitched, incomes him the AL Comeback Participant of the 12 months and Supply Man of the 12 months honours. His efficiency additionally set a then-record for the bottom ERA in a single season by a reliever with at the very least 50 innings pitched,” the discharge mentioned.
From left: outfielder Tyler Duncan, workforce proprietor Eric Spearin, new participant Fernando Rodney, assistant coach Luis Bernardo, director of scouts Matt Creally and first baseman Tanner Rempel. (Submitted by Eric Spearin)
Rodney is older than his new teammates — the common age of gamers is 27-28 years outdated — however Spearin mentioned that is an additional benefit to the workforce.
“They’ve watched Fernando pitch for various years, so I believe that makes it much more thrilling for them. They’ve seemed as much as him all through his profession and now they’ll be sharing the identical locker room with him,” Spearin mentioned.
“I believe he’ll deliver management, a wealth of information and fervour. He is extraordinarily passionate concerning the sport, that is why he continues to play [and] we’re simply actually excited to have him.”
Spearin mentioned workforce member and assistant coach Luis Bernardo, who’s initially from the Dominican Republic, has identified Rodney for various years, and was “very instrumental” in serving to to get him to signal with the Cardinals.
Bernardo, two different gamers —Tyler Duncan and Tanner Rempel — in addition to different Hamilton Cardinals workers members have joined Spearin within the Dominican Republic this week, for conferences with Rodney, in addition to tryouts for different gamers.
Quest to repair championship ‘drought’
Spearin mentioned the Hamilton Cardinals — who haven’t gained a championship since 1978 — have already commenced coaching at Strike Zone Coaching in Burlington forward of the 2025 season.
“We’ll begin bringing in our gamers to Hamilton most likely the final week of April in anticipation of taking part in exhibition video games the primary two weeks of Could, after which the center of Could is when our common season would begin and it lasts till the center of September,” he mentioned.
Noting that there is been just one championship win within the workforce’s 67-year historical past, Spearin mentioned bringing Rodney in is a part of the hunt to finish the drought.
“As an proprietor, I’m doing no matter it takes to ensure that we’ll attempt to repair that drought and truly win a championship,” he mentioned.
“So, I believe that simply sort of furthers our dedication and our willingness to return down right here, discover gamers like Fernando and convey them again to Hamilton to assist us win.”
