Ronny Rodríguez

Ronny Rodríguez Martinez (born April 17, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. Rodríguez has also played for the Dominican Republic national baseball team.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Martinez.
Ronny Rodríguez
Rodriguez with the Tigers in 2019
Free agent
Infielder
Born: (1992-04-17) April 17, 1992
Santiago de los caballeros, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 31, 2018, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.221
Home runs19
Runs batted in63
Teams

Career

Rodríguez grew up in the Dominican Republic, but moved to the United States in 2007. He attended high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts, but when his mother became pregnant, putting a strain on the family due to their small house, he dropped out and returned to the Dominican Republic. He signed as an international free agent with the Chicago Cubs in 2008, but the contract was voided when Major League Baseball (MLB) determined he should have been eligible for the MLB draft. MLB suspended Rodríguez for a year. He began working out at the Kansas City Royals complex, but they decreased the signing bonus they were offering Rodríguez, and he did not sign with them.

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians signed Rodríguez as an international free agent in 2010.[1][2]

In 2012, Rodríguez played for the Carolina Mudcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. He and Tony Wolters alternated between playing shortstop and second base.[2][3] He led the team with 19 home runs, and was assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.[4] He played for the Akron RubberDucks of the Class AA Eastern League in 2013 and 2014. Rodríguez endured a wrist injury during spring training in 2015, and rejoined RubberDucks in June.[5] During the winters, Rodríguez plays for Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League.[6][7]

After the 2015 season, Rodríguez was selected to the roster for the Dominican Republic national baseball team at the 2015 WBSC Premier12.[8] He batted 6-for-15 (.400) during the tournament.[9]

During spring training in 2017, Rodríguez competed for a role on the Cleveland Indians' Opening Day roster.[10] He did not make the team.[11] Rodríguez spent the 2017 season with the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League, and batted .291 with 17 home runs.[12] He became a free agent after the season.[13]

Detroit Tigers

On December 16, 2017, Rodríguez signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[14] He began the season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League.[15] On May 30, he hit for the cycle.[16] Rodríguez was named the International League's Player of the Month for May 2018, after he led the league with a .383 batting average, .652 slugging percentage, 44 hits, and 24 runs batted in during the month.[17]

On May 31, 2018, the Tigers purchased Rodríguez's contract from the Mud Hens. He had batted .318 with eight home runs in 48 games for Toledo to that point.[18] Rodríguez made his major league debut that day against the Los Angeles Angels as Detroit's second baseman.[19] He hit an infield single off Andrew Heaney in his first major league at bat.[20] Rodríguez batted 2-for-19 (.105) with six strikeouts for the Tigers before they optioned him to Toledo on June 6.[21] He was recalled on July 5. On August 23, Rodríguez hit his first major league home run off James Shields of the Chicago White Sox.[22] Rodríguez compiled 191 at-bats at the major league level in 2018, posting a .220 batting average with five home runs.

In 2019, Rodríguez was optioned to Toledo to open the season.[23] The Tigers promoted him to the major leagues on April 14.[24] In a May 11 game against the Minnesota Twins, Rodríguez hit a pair of upper-deck home runs for his first career multi-homer game.[25] On August 23, also against the Twins, Rodríguez hit his first career grand slam.[26] Rodríguez finished the 2019 season with a .221 average, 14 home runs, and 43 RBI in 276 major league at-bats.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 9, 2019, Rodríguez was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers from Detroit.[27] On September 14, 2020, Rodríguez was designated for assignment by the Brewers without appearing in a major league game for them.[28] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Personal life

Rodríguez raps under the stage name "El Felino".[1] His first music video was released during the 2017–18 offseason.[29] His uncle, Wilton Chavez, was also a professional baseball player.[1]

References
  1. "Tigers utility man Ronny Rodriguez raps (who knew?)". Detroitnews.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  2. "Cleveland Indians pleased with growing middle-infield depth and young prospects". cleveland.com. January 19, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  3. Storm, Stephanie (January 28, 2013). "Indians getting all their young shortstop prospects playing time". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  4. "Seven Mudcats to Play in Prestigious Arizona Fall League". MiLB.com. August 29, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  5. "Akron RubberDucks welcome return of Ronny Rodriguez: Cleveland Indians Class AA Report". cleveland.com. June 12, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  6. Listin Diario (December 26, 2016). "COMPETENCIA – Ronny Rodríguez fue líder de bateo por 10 milésimas | Listín Diario". Listindiario.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  7. "Ronny Rodríguez: "Sé la clase de pelotero que soy" | Metro Republica Dominicana". Metrord.do. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  8. "DOM Roster". World Baseball Softball Confederation: WBSC. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  9. "Tournaments". WBSC. November 21, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  10. Lewis, Ryan (February 21, 2017). "Three-way race for utility spot on Indians' bench; Outfield race likely to go to veterans". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  11. Bastian, Jordan (May 24, 2018). "Greg Allen, Ronny Rodriguez among Indians cuts | Cleveland Indians". Mlb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  12. Beck, Jason (May 24, 2018). "Ronny Rodriguez in mix for Tigers' roster spot". MLB.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  13. Por: El Día Fecha: 27 septiembre, 2017 12:02 am (June 20, 2014). "Infielder Ronny Rodríguez será 'asediado' por los asiáticos" (in Spanish). Eldia.com.do. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  14. Por Jack Baer. "Ronny Rodríguez y otros tres peloteros firman pactos de liga menor con Tigres | Lasmayores.com". Mlb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  15. Rowland, Kyle (May 26, 2018). "Rodriguez has been everything the Hens could ask for – The Blade". Toledoblade.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  16. Bumbaca, Chris. "Rodriguez hits for cycle, adds extra homer". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  17. Wagner, John (June 4, 2018). "Mud Hens Ronny Rodriguez named International League's top player in May". Toledo Blade. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  18. Woodbury, Evan (February 27, 2018). "After offensive barrage at Toledo, Ronny Rodriguez will make MLB debut for Tigers". MLive.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  19. "Ronny Rodriguez latest fill-in to bail out battered Detroit Tigers". Detroitnews.com. May 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  20. Beck, Jason (May 24, 2018). "Ronny Rodriguez gets first callup to Majors". MLB.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  21. Woodbury, Evan (June 6, 2018). "Tigers' Alex Wilson back from disabled list; Ronny Rodriguez sent down". MLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  22. Beck, Jason (August 23, 2018). "Boyd delivers scoreless showing vs. White Sox". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  23. Polishuk, Mark (March 23, 2019). "Tigers Select Gordon Beckham's Contract, Release Bobby Wilson". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  24. https://www.blessyouboys.com/2019/4/14/18310191/detroit-tigers-roster-moves-jordy-mercer-injury-ronny-rodriguez
  25. Hall, Brian (May 11, 2019). "Rodriguez goes deep twice, Tigers win G1 late". MLB.com. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  26. Beck, Jason (August 23, 2019). "'El Felino' Grand slam lifts Tigers in opener". MLB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  27. Evan Woodbery (December 9, 2019). "Tigers' Ronny Rodriguez claimed on waivers by Brewers". MLive.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  28. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/brewers-claim-billy-mckinney-waivers-blue-jays.html
  29. "'El Felino' is an aspiring Tigers utility man and a budding Dominican rapper". MLive.com. March 12, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
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