The depleted Milwaukee Brewers pitching staff are turning to Elvin Rodríguez for the home-opener start Monday against the Kansas City Royals .

Brewers fans may wonder who that is, since he wasn't part of the franchise in previous years. He's one of the few free-agent signings that the Brewers made this offseason .

Who is Rodriguez? Here's what you should know about the starting pitcher.

Elvin Rodriguez age

Elvin Rodriguez is making his Brewers debut on his birthday; Rodriguez turns 27 years old on March 31.

Elvin Rodriguez baseball history

Rodriguez spent all of last season in Japan with the Yakult Swallows, and he signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2026 with the Brewers this offseason.

In 88 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball last year, Rodriguez worked to a 1.74 earned-run average, striking out 73 batters and walking 26.

Elvin Rodriguez stats

He's pitched very briefly in the Majors before, first with Detroit in 2022 for seven games before making one appearance for Tampa Bay in 2023.

He owns a 9.55 career ERA in 33 innings in the majors.

Elvin Rodriguez fastball

Rodriguez brings with him an intriguing primary two-pitch mix with a fastball and slider. He was brought here as a player who could start or relieve, but the Brewers would likely before far more comfortable if he were working out of the pen.

He was elevated to the starting rotation as the Brewers navigate significant injuries to their pitchers in the earlygoing of the 2025 season.