John Rodriguez (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Rodríguez |
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Rodriguez with the Cleburne Railroaders in 2019
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: January 20, 1978 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 18, 2005, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2006, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .298 | ||
| Home runs | 7 | ||
| Runs batted in | 43 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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John Joseph Rodriguez was born on January 20, 1978. He is a former professional baseball player. John played in the Major Leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was with the Cardinals from 2005 to 2006. During his time there, he helped the team win the 2006 World Series.
Contents
John Rodriguez: A Baseball Story
Starting Out in Baseball
John Rodriguez went to Brandeis High School. After high school, he started his baseball journey. In 1996, he signed with the New York Yankees. He played in the Yankees' minor league teams for eight years. Minor league teams help players get ready for the Major Leagues.
In 2005, John signed with the Cleveland Indians. Later that year, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He played really well for the Cardinals' Triple-A team, the Memphis Redbirds. He hit .342 (which is a great batting average) and had 17 home runs in just 34 games. Because he played so well, the Cardinals called him up to the Major Leagues. This happened when another player, Reggie Sanders, got injured.
On July 20, 2005, John hit his very first home run in the Major Leagues. It was against Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Playing in the Major Leagues
John Rodriguez got more chances to play for the Cardinals in 2006. He had 183 at-bats, which means he stepped up to bat 183 times. This was more than the year before. He was also part of the team's roster for the postseason games.
Winning the World Series
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In 2006, the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2006 World Series. This was a huge achievement for John and the team. Winning the World Series means they were the best team in baseball that year. John earned a World Series ring for being part of this winning team.
After the Cardinals
After the 2006 season, John's time with the Cardinals came to an end. In 2008, he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in their minor league system. Later that year, he also played for the New York Mets' Triple-A team, the New Orleans Zephyrs.
In 2009, John signed with the New York Yankees again. He played the whole season for their Triple-A team, the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees. After that, he became a free agent. He continued to play professional baseball for other teams, including the Long Island Ducks in 2010 and 2011. In 2012 and 2013, he played for the Wichita Wingnuts.
Teaching the Game
Today, John Rodriguez shares his baseball knowledge with others. He is the Head of Baseball Operations and the Head Hitting Instructor at the Yorkville Baseball Academy. He teaches young players about "The Art of Hand Path," which is a special way to swing the bat.
