(Photo: Robin Buckson, Detroit News file)
Lakeland, Fla. — Ronny Rodriguez acted as if anybody could just walk up and swat a 96-mph fastball from Aroldis Chapman off the scoreboard in left field at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, like he did on Sunday.
“Chapman throws fastballs, so I am not looking for any different pitches,” he said. “I don’t think he’s going to throw me a change-up or slider. I just think about jumping on the first pitch. I don’t try to hit it out, but I do.”
Rodriguez, who has re-inserted himself into the crowded mix for what is believed to be the last couple of position-player spots on the Tigers 25-man roster, has four hits this spring.