Arthur Rhodes Profile

Arthur Rhodes is one man who has not only been able to withstand the test of time in Major League Baseball, but has just gotten better throughout its course. At a ripe 40 years old, the Cincinnati Reds left-handed setup man may be having one of the best seasons of his career. Coming off of a streak of 33 consecutive appearances with scoreless innings, Rhodes has earned his first All-Star Game bid. After a career in the Majors playing for seven different teams, he has earned one of the highest honors in his election to appear in Anaheim for the annual midsummer classic.

The Waco, Texas native spent his first 12 years in the majors in Baltimore, after he was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1988 amateur player draft. After being granted free agency, he headed west to the Oakland Athletics. In the following years, he bounced among five different ball clubs before landing with the Reds in December 2008. Rhodes had an impressive 2009 with the Reds, as he appeared in 66 games with 53.1 IP and a 2.53 ERA. He more than proved his worth and secured his spot in the Reds bullpen; he came back in 2010 with one of his most impressive seasons thus far.

Rhodes had tied the Major League record by going 33 appearances without allowing a run, also held by Mark Guthrie and Mike Myers. His ERA also stood at 0.28. On June 29, Rhodes’ streak was broken by Raul Ibanez of the Phillies. He exited the game with a tip of his hat, and a standing ovation by the fans at Great American Ball Park.
Shortly after, the Major League veteran and All-Star rookie spoke out about something close to heart that he kept behind closed doors for many years. In 2008, Rhodes suffered a loss in his family when his five-year-old son, Jordan passed away.
Rhodes considers his election to the All-Star Game the best thing that’s happened in his career, and he had only wished that his son could be there to share it with him. In a way, he was and always is with him on mound. After entering each game, before he pitches he scratches the initials “J.R.” into the dirt, just behind the pitching rubber.

Rhodes is typically a very stoic and serious player, and it is astonishing that he has been able to pitch through the pain. He has never spoken publicly about it until last month, and the rest of his family also will not share details surrounding the loss. Arthur Rhodes has acknowledged though, that he remains in baseball in part to honor his son, who also loved the sport.

As a seamlessly ageless man is taking the mound in Cincinnati, and is elected to his first All-Star roster, he looks as though he is all business. But the initials tattooed on his leg and in the dirt behind the rubber will let you know that he’s got something else on his mind, and he’s not out there alone.