Nationals prospect Rodriguez gets his second chance

JUPITER, FLA. — Jefry Rodriguez thought the worst when he heard the news. The unassuming Washington Nationals prospect was sure his professional career wouldn’t recover from testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He thought the 80-game suspension would become a de facto lifetime ban because of, he claims, an innocent mistake.

“I thought everything was over,” Rodriguez said in Spanish.

The announcement came last May, just as he was enjoying his best stretch as a professional with Class A Hagerstown. The lanky, 6-foot-5 right-hander had a 3.51 ERA in seven starts before he was shelved. He went home to the Dominican Republic to stay in shape until he was called to the Nationals’ facility.

He was even better when he returned in August, posting a

2.81 ERA in five appearances, including three starts. He was then summoned to Washington to pitch to Nationals batters for live batting practice. He struck out all six he faced.

“I returned more ready,” said the 24-year-old Rodriguez, who signed with the Nationals for $75,000 in 2012.

“Better than before.” Rodriguez talked Tuesday inside the Nationals’ clubhouse at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

He was — again to his surprise — placed on Washington’s 40man roster in November, and, therefore, is in his first big league camp.

He doubles as a member of the Nationals’ rising crop of Dominican-born homegrown talents and one of a few pitching prospects with elite stuff the Nationals have close to the majors.

“He’s going to be really, really good,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s got a power fastball. The amazing thing is that he throws a two-seamer at

97, 98 m.p.h., which is pretty impressive. He’s young. He’s learning how to pitch. But he’s going to be really, really good.”

Rodriguez made his second appearance of the spring in Washington’s 3-1 loss to the Marlins on Wednesday. It was eventful. He threw 30 pitches, collected a strikeout and issued two walks, but held Miami without a hit or run in the frame.

It was an appropriate outing for an electric hurler still searching for consistent command of the strike zone.

Rodriguez said he has learned in his two weeks in camp, picking up pointers from those around him. But he still hasn’t spoken much to the veterans on the pitching staff.

“I haven’t that confidence yet to approach them,” he said.

That confidence should come with time, and another full season of experience.