Tigers: Eduardo Rodriguez leaves team for ‘personal matters’

Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, who was on his way back from an injury, will not rejoin Detroit because of “personal matters.”

It looked like Eduardo Rodriguez was on the verge of returning to the Tigers rotation after landing on the IL with a ribcage sprain but life has thrown him and the team a curveball.

The pitcher will not rejoin the team “at this time” while he deals with “personal matters,” the team announced on Monday.

“Eduardo Rodríguez has informed the Club that due to personal matters he will not rejoin the team at this time. As a result, Eduardo has been placed on the restricted list until further notice,” GM Al Avila said in a statement.

Eduardo Rodriguez won’t return to Tigers for “personal matters”

No details were given about the nature of Rodriguez’s personal concerns. There has been speculation about his social media activity providing a hint.

Rodriguez had just completed a rehab start for the Toledo Mudhens, pitching four scoreless innings with just two hits and nine strikeouts. It was exactly the kind of performance Tigers fans could have hoped for from the pitcher who signed a $77 million contract with the team in November of 2021.

This season he’s gone 1-3 with an ERA of 4.38 in eight appearances. He last pitched on May 18 against the Rays, leaving the game with an injury.

The Tigers are 24-35 and sitting in fourth place in the AL Central. This season has not gone close to what they hoped coming in and this setback won’t help especially so close to an unwelcome injury update on Casey Mize.