#17 Frankie Rodriguez, RHP (2002-2008)

Rodriguez was signed by the Angels as an amateur free agent in 1998. The young phenom burst onto the Major League scene in October 2002, winning a postseason record five games (T1st, single PS). He was nicknamed K-Rod while striking out a record 13.5 K/9 IP (1^st, single PS) in 11 games (T10th, single PS) with his electric fastball and wicked slider. He went 2-0 (T1st, single LDS) with a 3.18 ERA and 8 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings vs. the Yankees in the ALDS. In the ALCS vs. the Twins, he again went 2-0 (T2nd, single LCS) with a 0.00 ERA and 7 Ks in 4 1/3 innings. In the World Series, he went 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 13 Ks in 8 2/3 innings against the Giants. In Game 2, Frankie became the youngest pitcher to ever win a World Series game – the first World Series victory in franchise history.

Once he took over the closer’s role in 2005, he saved 40+ games for each of the next four years (each among the Angels’ single-season leaders), culminating in his ML record 62 saves (1^st) in 2008. He also had a team record 69 games finished that year. Overall, Frankie has finished among the Angels’ single-season leaders in:

- Games pitched (3x – ’04, ’06, ‘08)

- Saves (4x – ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08)

- Games finished (4x - ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08)

* League leader years highlighted

In the 2005 postseason, K-Rod gave up only 1 ER and struck out 5 in 5 2/3 IP to save 2 games (T7th, single LDS) against the Yankees and another against the White Sox. His career 11.653 K/9 IP currently ranks 3^rd in postseason history. Among his many accolades, K-Rod represented the Angels in the All-Star game in ’04, ’07, & ’08, won the Rolaids Relief Award in ’06 & ’08, finished in the top four in the Cy Young voting in ’04, ’06 & ’08, and finished 6^th in the MVP in ‘08.

After his record setting 2008 season, Frankie signed as a Free Agent with the Mets. After 6+ seasons in Anaheim, Frankie is the team’s all-time leader with:

- 21 postseason games

- 5 postseason wins

- 11.7 postseason K/9 IP

- 2.93 postseason SO/BB

Frankie ranks among the Angels’ career leaders with:

- an 18.0 WAR for pitchers (10^th)

- 408 games (4^th)

- 208 saves (2^nd)

- 297 games finished (2^nd)

- a .556 postseason W/L% (2^nd)

- a 3.13 postseason ERA (4^th)

- 8 postseason games finished (2^nd)

- 3 postseason saves (T2^nd)

- 31.7 postseason IP (3^rd)

- 41 postseason strikeouts (2^nd)

- a 1.295 postseason WHIP (4^th)

- 7.7 postseason H/9 IP (4^th)

- 1.4 postseason HR/9 IP (5^th)

- 4.0 postseason BB/9 IP (6^th)

With only 451.7 IP, Frankie came up 49 innings short of qualifying for the Top Ten in several rate stats including both ERA (2.35) and WHIP (1.114).