Francisco José Rodriguez (born January 7, 1982, in Caracas, Venezuela), nicknamed "Frankie" and "K-Rod," is a Major League Baseball closer for the New York Mets. Rodriguez previously played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2002 to 2008, and served as their closer starting in 2005. Rodriguez holds the major league record for saves in a single season with 62, set in 2008.

Rodriguez signed as an undrafted amateur free agent in 1998. Originally a starting pitcher, Rodriguez moved to relief pitching in 2002 after elbow and shoulder injuries shortened his 2001 minor league season with the Lake Elsinore Storm. In 2002, he made his major league debut. Because of the multiple injuries to the Angels bullpen, the club brought him up during the middle of September. He emerged as a postseason relief hero, winning five postseason games despite never having won a Major League game before.

Because Rodriguez had played very little in the Major Leagues, hitters in the playoffs had little idea what to expect from him, a situation that often favors the pitcher. In the ALDS against the Yankees, he got two victories (with 1 win resulting from a blown save). Against the Twins in the ALCS, he went 2–0 with seven strikeouts in four and one-third innings. Finally, in the 2002 World Series against the Giants, he had a 1–1 record with 13 strikeouts in eight and two-thirds innings. At 20 years old, he became the youngest ever to win a World Series game.