DO NOT START OR CRANK THE MOTOR OVER until you determine wether or not the rod is bent. If the rod is bent and stuck up onto the cam, starting or cranking the motor could damage the cam.
On the SBC the fuel pump bolts to a plate that is bolted to the block with 4 bolts, the rod will not come out without taking this plate off. Sometimes the rod drops down and wedges between the plate and the block and can not be moved through the small elongated hole in the pump plate. Remove the plate and the rod should come free easily.