Rodriguez addressed that with teammates in a meeting Friday afternoon, talking about the family situation that led him to return to Miami. He then spoke with reporters about the process and challenge of returning. He did not get into specifics with the media, but as he talked about the importance of his children in his life, the gravity of the situation was evident.
 
“It was difficult to step away from my career and all my teammates and everything,” Rodriguez said. “But for me, family is always first. My second family is my teammates and the organization. They gave me an opportunity to be here, and I’m back here with my second family. I’m glad to be back.”

Once Hinch and Rodriguez reconnected, they planned out the specifics of his return, both when to pitch and when to rejoin the team. What nobody could plan were the emotions that went with it.

While Rodriguez endured a family crisis, his departure was one of several crises in a disappointing season that has become trying on the players. Rodriguez said he felt the struggles as he watched from afar.

The Detroit Tigers have had no communication with Eduardo Rodriguez since placing the star pitcher on the restricted list three weeks ago, according to general manager Al Avila, who said the team has “no choice but to wait it out right now.”

Avila addressed Rodriguez’s status Wednesday, 23 days after the left-hander was placed on the restricted list because of a personal matter. The Tigers announced at the time that Rodriguez would not rejoin the team “until further notice,” and Avila noted Wednesday that situation is “unusual.”

“We’ve reached out, but obviously he hasn’t reached out back, so we’re just kind of waiting it out,” Avila told reporters. “It is unusual, but we have no choice but to wait it out right now and see what develops as we move forward.”

Rodriguez is in the first year of a five-year, $77 million deal with the Tigers but has not pitched since suffering a rib cage injury on May 18. He was set to return from a minor league rehab assignment before being placed on the restricted list June 13.

Rodriguez has not been paid while on the restricted list, and Avila declined to answer whether the Tigers have discussed voiding his contract.

“I’m not going to get into that at this point,” Avila said. “Obviously that’s a private situation right now on his part, so I won’t get into any of those legalities.”