Rodney Theophile

Rodney Darien Theophile Cuthbert (born September 16, 1999) is a Nicaraguan professional baseball pitcher for the Mississippi Mud Monsters of the Frontier League.

Career Washington Nationals Theophile grew up on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, in the city of Pearl Lagoon. He began playing baseball at age 12. Originally a first baseman, Theophile was discovered by professional baseball scout Alex Mongrío, who recognized his potential as a pitcher. In 2015, Theophile traveled to the Dominican Republic to train at the MVP Rivera Sport Academy. He participated in an international showcase for Major League Baseball organizations in early 2016 in the Dominican Republic—the only Nicaraguan prospect at that showcase, El Nuevo Diario reported at the time. While training in the Dominican Republic, Theophile sharpened his curveball and improved the velocity of his fastball to top out above . Theophile, an admirer of Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer, subsequently signed with Washington for a $20,000 bonus. He additionally did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Theophile was assigned to begin the season with the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals, where he compiled a 4-11 record and 5.56 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 89 innings pitched over 22 starts. In 2022, he pitched for Fredericksburg and the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, accumulating a 6-8 record and 3.25 ERA with 110 strikeouts in innings pitched across 24 games (21 starts). Theophile made 10 appearances (nine starts) for Wilmington in 2023, logging an 0-3 record and 3.48 ERA with 39 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Theophile split the 2024 season between High-A Wilmington and the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, posting a cumulative 5-6 record and 3.53 ERA with 93 strikeouts in innings pitched across 20 starts. He elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2024.

Mississippi Mud Monsters On March 6, 2025, Theophile signed with the Mississippi Mud Monsters of the Frontier League. On July 8, he signed a contract extension with the team.

Personal life Theophile is a cousin of infielder Cheslor Cuthbert on his mother's side. His parents separated when he was 8 years old. His father instilled in him an interest in baseball, taking him to games when he was a boy, while his mother, a former member of the Nicaragua women's national basketball team, preferred that he take up basketball instead. Theophile's father died of a heart attack in 2016, at age 39, while Theophile was abroad for training in Panama and the Dominican Republic.