SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. —
Chris Rodriguez used the words “awful” and “annoying.”
His description made it sound so much worse.
Three offseasons ago, the highly touted Angels pitching prospect attacked his winter training program with too much intensity. He was hoping to add strength and velocity, to propel himself toward the MLB roster after being drafted in the fourth round in 2016 at age 17.
Instead, he accidentally “took it overboard,” he said, exerting too much stress on his back. What started out as gradual pain became exacerbated over time. A stress fracture in his spine eventually developed.