Eduardo Rodriguez confirms heart inflammation as a result of COVID-19 case

Speaking to reporters for the first time since he was shut down earlier this week, Eduardo Rodriguez confirmed multiple reports he's been diagnosed with myocarditis, a side effect of testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.

In a Zoom call with reporters, Rodriguez said, on doctor's orders, he's done little but sit around and do some walking.

"I feel normal,'' said Rodriguez. "They just told me to take some rest for a week and wait to get the next test and see what it is. Emotionally, it feels really hard because when I got here, I was supposed to start getting ready (for the season). Then we did the MRI and I got the news that I had to rest for a week. It was kind of hard for me, but at least we know what's going on and everything. Now, I'm just waiting to get back.

"What I have is called myocarditis, that's what they call it. That what came up in the MRI. That's why the doctor told me to take a week, just rest, don't get (my heart rate up) and we'll wait to see what the next MRI says. If it goes away, just go back to work.''

According to the Mayo Clinic: "Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. It can affect your heart muscle and your heart's electrical system, including your heart's ability to pump and causing rapid or abnormal heart rhythms. A viral infection usually causes myocarditis.''

Doctors told Rodriguez that approximately 10-20 percent of patients who contract COVID-19 later experience myocarditis.

"(The heart) is the most important part of your body,'' said Rodriguez. "The first time I heard that, I was kind of scared. Now that I know what it is, I'm still scared, but now at least I know exactly what it is.''

Rodriguez emphasized that he's given no thought to opting out of the season because of the condition.

"No, no, no, no,'' he said. "I want to be pitching yesterday, the day before or today. I want to be out there every time I can. I'm never thinking about getting out of the season. I feel badly every time I see a game and I'm not even in the dugout.''

Rodriguez is without any symptoms or discomfort due to the condition, though admits he feels frustrated.

"It's been weird, man,'' he said. "Hard, weird, scary. First, I got all of the COVID symptoms. Then I got here and now I had this. I was hoping that I could get ready for the season as quickly as I can. Then I got a get a week off. (Now, I'm just waiting) for the result of the next MRI. I would say it's been weird, really weird for me. Since I got the news, I'm just taking the week. I'm just sitting, eating and walking -- just chilling for a week.''

He's unsure how long he'll need to get back to action once he's cleared medically.

"I would say as soon I throw the first ball, I'll let you know,'' he said, ''because I need to know how my shoulder feels. It can be more (time), it can be less. It depends on how I feel to throw the first ball.''

His primary goal, once he's medically cleared, is to get back on the field as quickly as he can.

"I love baseball,'' he said. "I've been watching all the games, I love this (game) so much. I can't just be sitting around and not thinking about baseball. I've been watching the two games already and I'm going to be watching every game because I like to see where my teammates are at and how they're doing.''