Though he signed with the Yankees for just $10,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Rodriguez quickly became one of the most consistent hitters in their system, never batting below .294 in six seasons. He never settled in a defensive position, however, bouncing between catcher, third base, first base and left field. San Francisco acquired him last July in a four-prospect package in exchange for Camilo Doval.
A right-handed hitter, Rodriguez has met few pitches that he won't chase, yet he sports a career .309 batting average and 14 percent strikeout rate. His aggression has yet to cost him because he has uncanny hand-eye coordination that enables him to put most balls in play and generate high exit velocities. He'd be more productive if he were more selective about which pitches he puts in play, because his penchant for ground-ball and opposite-field contact may limit him to 10-15 homers per season.
Rodriguez will have more value if he can remain behind the plate, and the Giants think he'll be able to once he gets more reps. He has decent framing skills and solid arm strength, but he struggles as a receiver and blocker. An erratic defender wherever he plays, he has trouble slowing down the game at third base and lacks the range for left field, making first base his only other viable option.
Signed for just $10,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Rodriguez hit .294 or better in each of his six seasons in the Yankees' system. He never found a defensive home, however, bouncing between catcher, third base and the outfield corners. When the Giants traded Camilo Doval to New York this July, they regarded Rodriguez as the biggest prize in the four-prospect package they received in return.
Rodriguez has quality bat-to-ball skills and produces quality exit velocities, though they're mitigated by an extremely aggressive approach. A right-handed hitter, he chases all types of pitches out of the zone, resulting in a lot of suboptimal ground-ball contact. He's capable of hitting the ball out to the opposite field -- four of his 10 homers last year went to right field -- but he'll probably top out at 12-15 homers per season unless he gets more selective.
Rodriguez would maximize his value if he can catch on a regular basis, and San Francisco believes he can. He struggles as a receiver at times and needs more reps behind the plate, though he does move OK and has solid arm strength and a quick release. First base may be his only other viable option because he lacks range in left field and struggles with the speed of the game at third base.
San Francisco Giants recalled C Jesus Rodriguez from Sacramento River Cats.
03/18/2026
San Francisco Giants optioned C Jesus Rodriguez to Sacramento River Cats.
03/18/2026
Sacramento River Cats activated C Jesus Rodriguez.
03/05/2026
San Francisco Giants Prospects activated C Jesus Rodriguez.
03/05/2026
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to San Francisco Giants Prospects.
11/01/2025
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to Tigres de Aragua.
09/29/2025
San Francisco Giants recalled C Jesus Rodriguez from Sacramento River Cats.
08/01/2025
Sacramento River Cats activated C Jesus Rodriguez.
07/31/2025
San Francisco Giants traded RHP Camilo Doval to New York Yankees for C Jesus Rodriguez, RHP Trystan Vrieling, 3B Parks Harber and LHP Carlos De La Rosa.
07/31/2025
San Francisco Giants reassigned C Jesus Rodriguez to the minor leagues.
07/31/2025
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to Sacramento River Cats.
04/13/2025
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders from Somerset Patriots.
03/09/2025
New York Yankees optioned C Jesus Rodriguez to Somerset Patriots.
03/06/2025
activated C Jesus Rodriguez.
11/19/2024
New York Yankees selected the contract of C Jesus Rodriguez from Somerset Patriots.
09/26/2024
Somerset Patriots activated C Jesus Rodriguez from the 7-day injured list.
08/23/2024
Somerset Patriots placed C Jesus Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list.
07/23/2024
Somerset Patriots activated C Jesus Rodriguez from the 7-day injured list.
06/26/2024
Somerset Patriots placed C Jesus Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list.
06/19/2024
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to Somerset Patriots from Hudson Valley Renegades.
03/07/2024
New York Yankees Prospects activated C Jesus Rodriguez.
02/25/2024
C Jesus Rodriguez roster status changed by New York Yankees.
02/25/2024
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to New York Yankees.
02/25/2024
C Jesus Rodriguez roster status changed by New York Yankees.
10/20/2023
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to Tigres de Aragua.
08/08/2023
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades from Tampa Tarpons.
04/06/2023
C Jesus Rodriguez and assigned to Tampa Tarpons from FCL Yankees.
02/26/2023
C Jesus Rodriguez and assigned to New York Yankees.
06/06/2022
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to FCL Yankees.
04/03/2022
C Jesus Rodriguez and assigned to New York Yankees.
09/03/2021
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to DSL Yankees1 from DSL Yankees2.
07/11/2021
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to DSL Yankees2 from DSL Yankees1.
07/13/2019
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to DSL AL All-Stars.
05/31/2019
C Jesus Rodriguez assigned to DSL Yankees.
07/02/2018
New York Yankees signed free agent C Jesus Rodriguez to a minor league contract.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's batted balls would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
Standard
Year
HR
2026
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Player
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's batted balls would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here
