MIAMI, Fla.- Former Florida SouthWestern ace Carlos Rodriguez will be front and center on one of the game's biggest stages on Saturday as he takes the ball with his country's flag on his chest, drawing the opening day start for Nicaragua in their World Baseball Classic opener against Puerto Rico.

Despite being the youngest player on the team at just 21, Rodriguez earned the start for Nicaragua's first World Baseball Classic appearance in their Nation's history.  On March 10, 2021, Rodriguez threw five scoreless innings for FSW in a win over Hillsborough Community College, two years and a day later, he will oppose WBC title contender Puerto Rico which features a lineup jam packed with MLB talent including Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, and Kike Hernandez. 

Making the starting nod even more special for Rodriguez, he will do it in the city he grew up in in Miami, just 10 miles away from where he starred as a prep at Miami Christian High School.

Rodriguez pitched one season with the Bucs before being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 6^th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft.  He was 7-2 in 10 starts, striking out 62 in 47 innings pitched while notching the lowest single season ERA by a starter in program history at 2.11. 

A consensus Top 15 prospect for the Brewers, Rodriguez was Milwaukee's 2022 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, leading the Brewers system in a number of different pitching categories including WHIP, opponents' batting average, and strikeout rate. 

Rodriguez and Nicaragua will take on Puerto Rico Saturday in their Pool D opener at noon at loanDepot Park in Miami.

 The game will be shown live Nationally on Fox Sports 2.