Eddy Rodriguez adding 'toughness' to Bradenton lineup

After starting the year on the injured list, Eddy Rodriguez made an immediate impact to Marauders' lineup.

Photo Credit: WTM

When a team signs an international player, it can be a couple of years before we get much information on them. Some of the top players will have some scouting reports, but since they are so young when they are signed, it’s nearly impossible to tell what to expect when they come stateside.

Even when they do, coverage of the backfields and complex games can be so limited that little information is released.

For someone like Eddy Rodriguez, there have been some positive notes on him going back to when he was at the Complex, but this season is the first opportunity most have had to see him play.

One person who has had a front-row seat to what kind of player Rodriguez is is Bradenton manager Jim Horner, who was also with the complex league last year in the same role.

“He’s been good for this club just because he adds some toughness,” Horner said of Rodriguez. “He’s a tough kid, he plays hard, he’s not scared.”

Rodriguez began the season on the injured list, and while there has been a lot more to do with the Marauders’ recent success, Bradenton was 3-12 when he was activated and 16-10 since.

“He has that edge to him, and he just gets out there and competes.”

The Marauders had three walk-off wins during their six-game sweep of the St. Lucie Mets a few weeks ago, Rodriguez had one of them.

Even going back to his days in the Dominican League, Rodriguez has shown a strong approach at the plate, and while the strikeouts are a bit higher than his career marks, Rodriguez isn’t chasing out of the zone right now, something Horner immediately brought up.

“The thing he is doing right now is in his at-bats is that he’s not basically expanding. He’s hitting the balls that he’s supposed to over the plate,”

Rodriguez currently has a 14.4% walk rate and is only expanding outside of the zone 23.8% of the time (swings on pitches outside the zone), a number that is only a few points off where Termarr Johnson was at during his time in Bradenton last year (20.1%).

“Doesn’t mean he’s getting hits all the time but he just has some toughness to him that he competes so bad, wants to win so bad.”

Sometimes, all you can do is put yourself in the correct position, and the results will eventually come.

One thing that could really help him is getting a little more lift on the ball. While he has a 42.3% hard-hit rate, he’s barreled up just 1.9% of his batted balls. So, while he is making solid contact, most of it has been into the ground.

He’s hitting the ball into the ground much higher than in previous years, which is another sign that more success may be coming.

In the meantime, Rodriguez is doing what he can to help the team; his five stolen bases are fourth. He’s also fifth on the team in hits and has played in the fewest games of anyone in that top five.

The Pirates need some breakout-hitting prospect, and while it’s still at the lower levels, Rodriguez’s game suggests he could be one.