DUNEDIN, Fla. - Francisco Rodriguez navigated the narrow streets of this friendly, little, old-school spring training burg looking for a place to park in his Mercedes late Friday morning.
Finally, after asking several people for directions, he found a spot near the grounds crew shed at Dunedin Stadium.
The episode was a bit of a metaphor for Rodriguez's workday with the Phillies. Back on the mound in a game situation for the first time since last summer, Rodriguez allowed a walk to the first batter he faced and later a single, but stayed composed and left two runners on base in notching a scoreless inning in his first action of the spring in a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I felt kind of lost the first couple of batters," Rodriguez said. "But once I got a ground ball, I started locating. It had been a while since I was on the mound in a game."
Rodriguez, 36, is the most decorated player in Phillies camp. He is a six-time All-Star and baseball's active leader in saves (437) and appearances (948). Released twice last season, he is trying to win a spot in the Phillies' bullpen as a non-roster invite to camp.
He opened last season as Detroit's closer, but was released in June after recording a 7.82 ERA in 28 games. The Nationals took a peek at him in the minors a few weeks later and also let him go.
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Rodriguez said he was not healthy last season. He said he had issues with his groin and hamstring.
"I couldn't be 100 percent," he said. "But that's not an excuse. I should have found a way to get the job done in Detroit and I couldn't. That's one of the reasons that I'm in this situation now."
Rodriguez ranks fourth all time in saves behind Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith. He does not have the power fastball that once earned him the nickname K-Rod - he topped out at 89 mph Friday - but location, a good changeup and old-fashioned savvy are still strengths. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz was influential in bringing in Rodriguez for a look. The two were together in Milwaukee, where Rodriguez was an All-Star in 2014 and 2015.
"He's a great reliever," Kranitz said.
Does he have anything left?
"I believe so, yes," Kranitz said.
Kranitz went on to say that Rodriguez was a high-character guy who would help the Phillies' young pitchers.
Rodriguez was asked what pushed him to continue his career and come to camp essentially on a tryout.
"I love the game," he said. "I don't think I have to prove anything. I don't think I went to Walmart and bought 900 appearances and 437 saves. I did that with a lot of pride and hard work. This is the only thing I know how to do, play baseball. God gave me the opportunity to throw a baseball and I'm going to continue to do it."
The Phillies may go with an eight-man bullpen. That could help Rodriguez's chances of sticking. But he will have to pitch well.
"I'm looking forward to having a great spring," he said.
