Cuban Major League pitcher Yariel Rodríguez, currently with the Toronto Blue Jays, touched the hearts of his fans on Tuesday by dedicating an emotional birthday message to his mother. "Happy birthday, mom. I love you more than my life. Another birthday spent apart, but I know one day we'll be together forever," Rodríguez wrote on Facebook.
Rodríguez expressed his deep love and gratitude towards his mother, highlighting how she has always guided him down the right path. "Thank you for being the mother you are, for loving me, and for always leading me in the right direction. I love you, I will always love you," said the pitcher, who has previously played at the top level of Japanese baseball.
The 27-year-old from Camagüey recently completed his first season in the Major Leagues as his team failed to make the playoffs. Despite not achieving the desired stats, Rodríguez showcased his talent in several areas, including opponents' batting average (.229) and strikeout rate, tallying 85 strikeouts in 86.2 innings.
However, Cuba's ace in the last World Baseball Classic had a challenging season, winning only one game, losing eight, and finishing with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP, according to ESPN statistics.