One of the youngest players in the 2017 Draft at 17 years and seven months, Rodriguez was a third-round choice out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico. He didn't reach full-season ball until his fifth year as a pro in 2021 and went unselected in the Rule 5 Draft despite being unprotected after '21 and '22. After homering 55 times in the past two seasons, he finally claimed a spot on the 40-man roster in November.
A switch-hitter when he turned pro, Rodriguez has batted solely from the right side since 2019 and has become one of the few true sluggers in the organization. He creates the highest exit velocities in the system and well-above-average raw power that plays to all fields with his combination of prodigious strength and bat speed. Instead of letting his pop come naturally, he repeatedly chases pitches out of the strike zone, leading to strikeouts and suboptimal contact. He did show more patience in 2023, taking walks when opponents declined to challenge him.
Despite below-average speed, Rodriguez covers enough ground to be an average defender on the outfield corners. He spent the majority of last season in right field, where his plus arm enabled him to record 13 assists in 91 games. He should get an opportunity with the Guardians at some point in 2024 after they finished last in the Majors in home runs last season.
One of the youngest players in the 2017 Draft, Rodriguez didn't turn 18 until five months after Cleveland made him a third-round pick out of Carlos Beltran's baseball academy in Puerto Rico. He spent his first two pro seasons in the Rookie-level Arizona League and because of the pandemic, he didn't reach full-season ball until his fifth year in 2021. He broke out with 26 homers in 2022 and has continued to pound the ball this summer while reaching Triple-A.
Rodriguez entered pro ball as a switch-hitter but has batted exclusively from the right side since 2019. He's an exception in a Guardians system loaded with hit-over-power guys, producing the highest exit velocities among Cleveland farmhands and well-above-average raw pop thanks to his strength and bat speed. A club official likened him to 2022 rookie standout Oscar Gonzalez with better swing decisions, though Rodriguez is still more aggressive than disciplined at the plate.
Though Rodriguez is a below-average runner, he covers a decent amount of ground on the outfield corners. His solid arm strength is a deterrent to baserunners. The Guardians aren't getting much offensive production and very little power out of their outfielders, so he could get a look in the big leagues in the near future.
The second-youngest player in the 2017 Draft class, Rodriguez didn't celebrate his 18th birthday until November. That youth, along with his highly projectable frame and loud but raw tools, put him firmly on the Indians' radar, and the club was thrilled to land the Puerto Rican prep in the third round. They were even more thrilled with his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where Rodriguez proved a more advanced hitter than initially expected while exhibiting a mature approach.
Scouts rave about Rodriguez's athleticism and projectable 6-foot-3 frame, one that leaves room for him to add considerable strength in the coming years. Once he's done so, the switch-hitting Rodriguez could offer plus raw power, though not before shortening the length of his swing and refining his overall hitting mechanics. Defensively, Rodriguez has a strong arm that receives plus grades from evaluators and profiles as a clean fit in right field.
Rodriguez is raw and will need time to develop his game in the Minor Leagues, but the overall package offers club officials plenty on which to dream.
The second-youngest player in the 2017 Draft class, Rodriguez won't celebrate his 18th birthday until November. That youth, along with his highly projectable frame and loud but raw tools, put him firmly on the Indians' radar, and the club was thrilled to land the Puerto Rican prep in the third round.
Scouts rave about Rodriguez's athleticism and projectable 6-foot-3 frame, one that leaves room for him to add considerable strength in the coming years. Once he's done so, the switch-hitting Rodriguez could offer plus raw power, though not before shortening the length of his swing and refining his overall hitting mechanics. Defensively, Rodriguez has a cannon for an arm that receives plus grades from evaluators and profiles as a clean fit in right field.
Rodriguez is raw and will need time to develop his game in the Minor Leagues, but the overall package offers club officials plenty on which to dream.
! 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
