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Eddy Rodríguez (catcher)

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Eddy Rodríguez
Rodríguez with the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2012
New York Yankees
Catcher
Born: (1985-12-01) December 1, 1985 (age 38)
Villa Clara, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 2, 2012, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2012 season)
Batting average.200
Home runs1
Runs batted in1
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Eddy Rodríguez (born December 1, 1985) is a Cuban professional baseball catcher in the New York Yankees organization. He played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres in 2012.

Rodríguez's family defected from Cuba on his father's fishing boat when he was eight years old, nearly dying on the journey. Rodríguez played college baseball for the University of Miami before beginning his professional career.

Early life

Rodríguez was born in Villa Clara Province, Cuba. His parents, Edilio and Ylya Rodriguez, operated a farm and his father fished.[1][2]

The Rodríguez family, consisting of Eddy, his parents, his sister Yanisbet, and his cousin Carlos, defected from Cuba when he was eight years old on his father's fishing boat. Eddy was unaware of the defection until they were at sea.[1][2][3] Their boat nearly capsized in a storm and they ran out of food, resorting to eating ground coffee beans, before they were discovered by the United States Coast Guard.[2][3] The family settled in Miami[2] and Rodríguez graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School in Coral Gables, Florida.[4]

Baseball career

Rodríguez received a scholarship from the University of Miami, where he played college baseball as the starting catcher for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team.[3] The Cincinnati Reds drafted Rodríguez in the 20th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He played in the Reds minor league baseball organization until 2009, reaching Class AA with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League, when he began playing independent league baseball.[6] Rodríguez played in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball for the El Paso Diablos in 2009 and the Sioux Falls Pheasants in 2010.[6]

In 2011, Rodríguez returned to organized baseball when he signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.[6] He was promoted to the Padres on August 1, 2012 from the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class A-Advanced California League, after starting catcher Yasmani Grandal was placed on the disabled list.[5]

Rodríguez made his Major League debut on August 2, 2012 against the Cincinnati Reds. He hit a home run off of Johnny Cueto in his first major league at-bat.[7] Rodríguez made two starts for the Padres in 2012, going 1 for 5 at the plate. He was optioned to the Triple-A Tucson Padres on August 9 when opening-day catcher Nick Hundley was recalled.[8]

On September 4, 2012 Rodríguez was designated for assignment and moved off the 40-man roster.[9] The Padres re-signed Rodríguez as a minor-league free agent and invited him to 2013 spring training.[10]

Rodríguez signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in January 2014.[11] He signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[12][13] He received a non-roster Spring training invitation on February 5, 2016.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ken Rodriguez (July 24, 2013). "After escaping Cuba as a boy, Eddy Rodriguez living his dream". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Katz, Marc (June 5, 2007). "Daring escape brought Dragons catcher to America Cuban-born Eddy Rodriguez and his family crossed stormy seas on a small fishing boat in 1993". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 1, 2012. (subscription required)
  3. ^ a b c Solange Reyner (April 22, 2005). "'canes In His Blood – Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  4. ^ "Living American Dream – Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. June 9, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Contributor, Guest. "Lake Elsinore Storm catcher Eddy Rodriguez called to San Diego Padres". Swrnn.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b c Thorstenson, Erik. "Pheasants Rodriguez signs with Padres – KSFY News". Ksfy.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  7. ^ "Rodriguez's first career homer". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  8. ^ Von Benko, George (August 10, 2012). "Hundley excited to be back with Padres". MLB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Padres announce roster moves". San Diego Padres. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  10. ^ Blontz, Blaine (November 29, 2012). "Padres sign Travis Buck, Eddy Rodriguez, Daniel Strange". SB Nation. MLB Daily Dish. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  11. ^ "Rays sign Wilson Betemit". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  12. ^ Mike Axisa. "Eddy: Yankees sign catcher Eddy Rodriguez to minor league contract". River Avenue Blues. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "Yankees invite 25 additional players to spring training". Newsday. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
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