We already mentioned a few days ago that FORTITUDO BOLOGNA was interested to bring in the former Major Leaguers Eddy Rodriguez and Eddy Garabito. The two Dominicans will reinforce the roster of last year’s regular season winner in the Italian Baseball League in 2009. The acquisition of the two was a little bit uncertain due to the difficulties with the BOLOGNA budget. But the club seemingly found a solution to finance them.
Rodriguez is 27 years old and from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, birth place of many other ball players like Alfonso Soriano, Robinson Cano, Sammy Sosa or Jose Valverde to name a few. The right-handed pitcher signed with the Baltimore Orioles organization as an undrafted amateur free agent in 1999 and moved through their Minor League system the following years, making his Major League debut as a reliever in 2004. He was back in Triple-A one season later, but had another stint in the big leagues in 2006. He last was under contract with a Major League club in 2007, when he appeared in two games for the Florida Marlins Triple-A affiliate.
In 38 games on the MLB level Rodriguez had an ERA of 5.40 with 48 strikeouts (40 walks) in 58 1/3 innings. His Minor League numbers are much better with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.29 in 290 games. He struck out 379 (185 BB) in 375 innings. He is supposed to follow Jesus Matos on the mound in the foreign-pitched game of each series, trying to impress Italian batters with his 90+ MPH fastball, complemented by a slider and a change-up.
Garabito is a middle infielder, who is 32 years old and from Haina, Dominican Republic. He also signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent back in 1996. He quickly moved through the different Minor League levels, reaching Triple-A in 2000. He didn’t make it to the big leagues with the O’s and joined the Colorado Rockies in 2005, debuting in the MLB in May of this year. He batted .307 (OBP .384/SLG .398) with 15 runs scored and eight RBI in 88 at bats over 42 games.
Garabito didn’t stick in the Majors and was back with Baltimore’s Triple-A team one year later. He finished his Minor League career with a batting average of .267 (.321/.375) with 55 homeruns, 43 triples, 223 doubles, 207 stolen bases, 625 runs scored and 505 RBI in 1129 games, 679 of them in Triple-A. In 2008 he batted .339 (.386/.686) in 29 games for St. George of the independent Golden League.
FORTITUDO will play the European Cup in Matino, Italy next week, before starting into the new IBL season on April 9th against CARIPARMA.