Ivan Rodriguez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #1 prospect in 1991
  During a visit to Puerto Rico a couple years ago, Sandy Johnson watched a catcher whom then-Rangers scout Luis Rosa was interested in signing. Johnson’s attention, though, was distracted by a stocky kid on one of the back fields, and he finally got Rosa to work the kid out. The first object of the talent search that day has become a forgotten piece of trivia. The stocky kid is making quite a name for himself. Pudge Rodriguez will play the entire 1991 season as a 19-year-old and already has scouts saying he could hold his own in the big leagues. He's a two-time all-star in the minor leagues and was selected as the No. 1 prospect in the Florida State League by the managers. Defensively he is at the head of the class, and offensively he has produced at a higher level than the Rangers hoped for in both years. He is only 5-foot-10 but has a solid body that makes him appear bigger. His small stature gives him good mobility behind the plate, where he blocks balls on a big league standard. There’s no question about his arm. Rosa, now with the Cubs, rates Rodriguez as a cross between Benito Santiago and Sandy Alomar Jr., two all-star catchers signed by Rosa. He is consistently timed at 1.7 to 1.75 seconds on throws to second base, rivaling the arm strength of Santiago. But he does it with mechanics more along the lines of Alomar. There's no toss from the knees or sidearm deliveries. Despite his youth, Rodriguez shows take-charge ability behind the plate. The Rangers feel they have good young pitching, but Rodriguez is the one who has to handle them, and in two years his staffs have finished first and second in their league in ERA. And yes, he is allowed to call his own game.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #1 prospect in 1991
  Texas League managers knew all along that Rodriguez, 19, was past their league in ability, if not experience. Rodriguez, before moving on to regular duty with Texas, batted .274-3-28 in 50 games with Tulsa. Even more eye-opening was his catching, in particular his arm. He threw out 60 percent of basestealers, and he did it with a tender shoulder.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #1 prospect in 1990
  Rodriguez is so good that one opposing manager commented, “The only way you’ll steal a base on him is if his teammate drops the ball.” Still extremely young, Rodriguez has adjustments to make at the plate. But that magic word--tools--made the Charlotte catcher a virtually unanimous pick for the top spot. Baseball City manager Brian Poldberg said, “He’ll be in the big leagues in a hurry.” Vero Beach manager Joe Alvarez said, “Let me put it this way: I’d love to be his agent.”
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #7 prospect in 1989
  Only 17 and just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, Rodriguez showed he was durable enough to last through his first professional season. He moves well behind the plate, has a major league-caliber arm and some pop at bat, hitting .238-7-42 for Gastonia. Rated among the top 10 minor league catching prospects by Baseball America, Rodriguez has some maturing to do. He won’t turn 18 until Nov. 27.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #7 prospect in 1991

• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  During a visit to Puerto Rico a couple years ago, Sandy Johnson watched a catcher whom then-Rangers scout Luis Rosa was interested in signing. Johnson’s attention, though, was distracted by a stocky kid on one of the back fields, and he finally got Rosa to work the kid out. The first object of the talent search that day has become a forgotten piece of trivia. The stocky kid is making quite a name for himself. Pudge Rodriguez will play the entire 1991 season as a 19-year-old and already has scouts saying he could hold his own in the big leagues. He's a two-time all-star in the minor leagues and was selected as the No. 1 prospect in the Florida State League by the managers. Defensively he is at the head of the class, and offensively he has produced at a higher level than the Rangers hoped for in both years. He is only 5-foot-10 but has a solid body that makes him appear bigger. His small stature gives him good mobility behind the plate, where he blocks balls on a big league standard. There’s no question about his arm. Rosa, now with the Cubs, rates Rodriguez as a cross between Benito Santiago and Sandy Alomar Jr., two all-star catchers signed by Rosa. He is consistently timed at 1.7 to 1.75 seconds on throws to second base, rivaling the arm strength of Santiago. But he does it with mechanics more along the lines of Alomar. There's no toss from the knees or sidearm deliveries. Despite his youth, Rodriguez shows take-charge ability behind the plate. The Rangers feel they have good young pitching, but Rodriguez is the one who has to handle them, and in two years his staffs have finished first and second in their league in ERA. And yes, he is allowed to call his own game.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  Texas League managers knew all along that Rodriguez, 19, was past their league in ability, if not experience. Rodriguez, before moving on to regular duty with Texas, batted .274-3-28 in 50 games with Tulsa. Even more eye-opening was his catching, in particular his arm. He threw out 60 percent of basestealers, and he did it with a tender shoulder.
• December, 1989 Scouting Report
  Rodriguez is so good that one opposing manager commented, “The only way you’ll steal a base on him is if his teammate drops the ball.” Still extremely young, Rodriguez has adjustments to make at the plate. But that magic word--tools--made the Charlotte catcher a virtually unanimous pick for the top spot. Baseball City manager Brian Poldberg said, “He’ll be in the big leagues in a hurry.” Vero Beach manager Joe Alvarez said, “Let me put it this way: I’d love to be his agent.”
• December, 1988 Scouting Report
  Only 17 and just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, Rodriguez showed he was durable enough to last through his first professional season. He moves well behind the plate, has a major league-caliber arm and some pop at bat, hitting .238-7-42 for Gastonia. Rated among the top 10 minor league catching prospects by Baseball America, Rodriguez has some maturing to do. He won’t turn 18 until Nov. 27.