Author Topic: Follow the Prospects: Rodney Theophile, RHP  (Read 1883 times)

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Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Follow the Prospects: Rodney Theophile, RHP
« Topic Start: May 09, 2022, 04:29:13 PM »
6' 5", 230 RHP
2018 IFA - $20,000 bonus
Birthdate: 9/16/1999 - Laguna de Perlas, Nicaragua
Pronounced "Theo-feel"


Quote
Rodney Theophile has allowed 20 hits and three earned runs in 26 innings with the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals. The 22-year-old Nicaraguan-born right-hander in the Washington system has issued five walks and logged 40 strikeouts.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-brandon-marsh-doesnt-feel-special-but-hes-definitely-having-fun/

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/rodney-theophile/sa3008228/stats?position=P
https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/101953/rodney-theophile/
https://www.milb.com/player/rodney-theophile-682496?stats=gamelogs-r-pitching-mlb
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Washington_Nationals_minor_league_players#/Rodney_Theophile

Missed 2nd half of the season in 2019 due to Tommy John Surgery.  Spent 2021 getting hit around in Fredericksburg (4-11, 5.56 ERA).  Repeating the level. Was the opening day starter.

Rule 5 eligible next offseason.

Groundball pitcher who has traded  line drives for GBs this year to bump his LD% / GB% / FB% to 11.5% / 57.7% / 30.8%, with an incredible 31% of those flies being infield pops.

From the Wikiwand:
Quote
The San Francisco Giants expressed interest in Theophile, reportedly signing him as an international amateur free agent in 2017, shortly after Theophile's 18th birthday.[210] However, the deal was never finalized and ultimately fell through.[213] Theophile, an admirer of Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer, subsequently signed with Washington for a $20,000 bonus.[211] He made his professional debut with the Nationals' Gulf Coast League affiliate in July 2018. Theophile underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2019 season, and the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Theophile was assigned to begin the season with the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals.[214]

At the time he signed with the Nationals, Theophile was listed at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and topped out at a reported 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) on his fastball, with a Nationals scout telling La Prensa he expected Theophile to further increase his velocity during the course of his development.[211]

Theophile is a cousin of Kansas City Royals infielder Cheslor Cuthbert on his mother's side.[215]

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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If anyone subscribes to La Prensa, there's a couple of articles on him. 
https://www.laprensani.com/tag/rodney-theophile

first, from July 2021:
Quote
Rodney Theophile ya cumplió dos de sus sueños: firmar para un equipo de Grandes Ligas y ver lanzar en persona a su ídolo Max Scherzer
My bad translation Rodney Theophile already has accomplished [?] two of his dreams: sign with a major league team and see pitching in person his idol Max Scherzer.

second - 6/28/21:
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https://www.laprensani.com/2021/06/28/deportes/2843651-rodney-theophile-brilla-e-ismael-munguia-baja-voltaje-en-las-menores -De 6’5 de estatura, 230 libras de peso y una poderosa bola rápida, el costeño es un diamante en bruto que los Nacionales de Washington
  Again, bad translation - 6'5" in height, 230 pounds and a powerful fastball, the Mosquito Coast native is a diamond in the rough for the Washington Nationals

Offline Section214

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Thanks for that information on Theophile. A little old for F-burg and having to repeat a level, but those are dominant starts. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Thanks for that information on Theophile. A little old for F-burg and having to repeat a level, but those are dominant starts. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.
just about on league average.  0.1 years older.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=theoph000rod

FWIW, I'm looking at his game log from last year.  It kind of looks like he faded second half of the year.  1st half (11 starts, through 7/16/21), he threw 41 innings, gave up more than 3 runs three times (4 earned twice).  Second half, 48 innings, he gave up 4 or more runs 5 times (4 or more earned 4 times). That said, he improved in September over his August.  It was his first full season because of the TJ in 2019, so that might be acceptable.  The issue may be whether to add him to the 40 man at the end of the year.  Let's see if he can keep it up and finish the year in Wilmington. 

Offline imref

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thanks for posting this. Obviously there will be concern with having a devotee of Malcom-Jamal Warner on the team, but if he can pitch, we'll deal with it.

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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thanks for posting this. Obviously there will be concern with having a devotee of Malcom-Jamal Warner on the team, but if he can pitch, we'll deal with it.
theophile?  I thought he liked Yalies.  why I put this up.

Offline imref

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theophile?  I thought he liked Yalies.  why I put this up.

:hysterical:

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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I'm having some fun with the Spanish coverage.  Lot's of stuff out of Nicaragua on him.  I haven't tried to speak or read Spanish since 1988, and didn't take it beyond a year in college, so it's quite rough.

Here's an extensive radio sports news article from 1 year ago:
https://radiouraccansiuna.com/rodney-theophile-listo-para-clase-a-baja/

I used the google translator for this one.  Points out his initial assignment after being signed was directly to state-side rookie ball (GCL), which is different from the usual path through the Dominican League first. It did not go well in 2018, then he had the TJS that cost him 2019.  However, due to the high value the "tecnicos" placed on him, he was assigned to lower class to start last year. BTW, the say Fredericksburg is in Texas (hey, at least they got the FredNats division right, with Baltimore, Cleveland, and Boston organizations). 

I'd be curious to know what "tecnicos" means - is it the scouts or the analytics guys?

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Scheduled to pitch tonight.  8 days since his last start.

Offline imref

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He was good tonight, real good. 7IP, 4H, R, 8Ks

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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He was good tonight, real good. 7IP, 4H, R, 8Ks
unearned.  ERA now 0.82 with 34 IP.

Also, House returned to the lineup after an IL stint.

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Finally hit a bit and tagged with a loss on 5/19. 4 er, 4 hits, 2bb, 3k in 5 ip. Era up to 1.66, whip 0.92.

All of the damage was in the first with 2 outs, then he cleaned things up and went 4 more innings, facing the minimum.


https://fredericksburg.today/2022/05/20/frednats-lose-fourth-straight-3/

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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bounce back outing for Theophile yesterday.

win, 5.1 IP, no runs, 3H, 2BB, 4 Ks, 1 HBP, 2.00 GB/FB.

So far this year, 8 starts, 43.1 IP, 4-1, 55Ks, 9 BB, 0.92 WHIP.  Just 2 dingers allowed.  ERA now down to 1.44, best in Carolina league. 65% GB when he's not K'ing guys at a rate off 11.42/9

podcast -discussed about 4:50 in.
https://augustafreepress.podbean.com/e/down-on-the-farm-inside-frednats-baseball-with-eric-bach/

Interview with announcer for frednats.
Name is pronounced Theo - feel.  3 pitches this year, breaking ball, change-up working well since dropping his 4th pitch. 

Game story: https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/frednats-explode-for-12-runs-thump-salem-on-thirsty-thursday/n-5832872

Has anyone watched him?  The podcast mentions he's big.  For comparison, Stras is 6'5", 240, and RT is listed as 6'5", 230.  Stras always looked lean to me.  Is the 230 honest?

Online Natsinpwc

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How is the name pronounced. Theo-File? Or The-o-fil-E?

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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How is the name pronounced. Theo-File? Or The-o-fil-E?
theo-feel

Gonna see if I can get Eric Longenhagen's thoughts on him during his noon chat on Fangraphs.

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Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Spelled wrong then. LOL.
yes, the e at the end. I might have thought "Tay-o-feel-ay"

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Quote
Rodney Theophile struck out seven in 5 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday night as the Fredericksburg Nationals posted their third shutout of the season, 6–0 at Fayettesville (N.C.).

Theophile allowed one hit and two walks in improving to 5–1 on the season and lowering his ERA to 1.29.
https://fredericksburg.com/sports/baseball/professional/theophile-frednats-shut-out-fayetteville/article_d959328b-d74e-5e5e-be08-3b774aafd03b.html


48.2 IP this year, with 62 Ks and 11 BBs.  Striking out hitters on 33% of their plate appearances. WHIP 0.88.  2.54 GB/FB, too. 

Promoted to Wilmington!
Quote
The Washington Nationals announced that right-handed starter Rodney Theophile earned a promotion to High-A Wilmington, where he joins former FredNats reliever Jose Ferrer.
https://augustafreepress.com/lara-turns-in-solid-start-friday-in-fayetteville-in-frednats-loss/

Offline imref

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nice debut for the Blue Rocks: 5IP, 4H, 2ER, 2BB, 2Ks

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Does anyone know what his arsenal is? I wish that was included in baseball reference pages, I haven't seen him pitch and would love to know what he's working with.

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mid-90s fastball, breaking ball, change.  Got Ks and had a really high GB rate.  GB:FB ratio and K:BB ratio were very high.

there's a podcast discussion mentioned in this post:
https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=40039.msg2249605#msg2249605

Offline imref

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decent last night - 5IP, 4H, 3ER, 5Ks, 1BB, all runs came on a 3-run dinger.

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https://www.prospects1500.com/milb/early-season-prospect-breakouts/

Quote
Theophile was an unheralded signing out of Nicaragua in 2018, signing with the Nationals for $10,000. And some would argue that at 22 years old he is old for a Single-A pitcher. But when you factor in that Theophile missed all of 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and all of 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of Covid-19, he is trying to make up for lost time. His numbers so far this year show that he might be able to get back on track. There is still a fair amount of development left here but the Nationals might just have a winning lottery ticket.

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winner last night after a little trouble in the 1st.

5 IP, 4H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB ( :smh: ) , 4K, 1 HR.

Control off - 80 pitches / 43 strikes.  Still had a nice GB/FB ratio of 5/3.  https://www.milb.com/gameday/ironbirds-vs-blue-rocks/2022/06/21/673281#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=673281

Quote
The Wilmington Blue Rocks picked up a big offensive victory against the South Atlantic League’s top team, the Aberdeen IronBirds, 7-3, on Tuesday, June 21.

Despite the Blue Rocks coming out on top, the IronBirds were the first on the board when Wilmington starter Rodney Theophile got into a bit of trouble.

Theophile started his outing walking his first batter and giving up a hit to his second. Then with Coby Mayo at the plate, catcher Israel Pineda let a ball pass him, allowing Connor Noby to score the night’s first run.

Wilmington would work themselves out of trouble when Brett Cumberland hit a flyout to right fielder Nick Banks, who would make a spot-on throw to Pineda to tag out Colton Cowser for the inning’s third out.
https://www.milb.com/news/wbr-game-recap-06-21-22

Settled down.  Later gave up a solo dinger in the 4th. That's 2 HR in 10 IP for all his earned runs (4) at High A.

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No fans at Fangraphs.  Does not make top 29, not even a 35+ prospect.  Logenhagen writes this among depth arms of note in the system:

Quote
Theophile is a big, 6-foot-5 righty from Nicaragua who put up arguably the best numbers in this system (15% swinging strike rate, 62% groundballs) prior to promotion to Wilmington, where his performance has regressed. I can’t find a scout or data analyst who can tell me why he was so dominant at Low-A; he sits in the low-90s, will occasionally flash a good changeup, and his breaking ball lacks power. There are lots of arms and legs coming at hitters, so perhaps he has huge deception.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/washington-nationals-top-29-prospects-2022/

In 4 starts (17 IP) at Wilmington, the BB/9 has doubled, the K/9 cut in half, ERA is 3.71, and FIP/xFIP over 5. After 3 5 inning starts a A+ through 6/21, made a short 2 IP start on 7/3