Puerto Ricans Showing Blondes Do Have More Fun — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

SAN DIEGO—Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez has thus far been able to hold out from bleaching his hair blonde like the rest of his team.

With each successive win however, it’s getting harder and harder for Rodriguez to say no to his player’s entreaties.

“They’re still trying,” Rodriguez chuckled, “but, yeah, I haven’t made a decision yet on that one.”

The bleached blonde look has become a signature of Puerto Rico as they’ve run through the World Baseball Classic.

With Yadier Molina rocking a blonde Mohawk and Carlos Beltran a blond beard, among the highlights, Puerto Rico enters tonight’s game against the United States with a 4-0 record and can clinch a spot in the semifinals with a victory.

Rodriguez, 56, isn’t necessarily a fan of the bleached look aesthetically, but has no complaints about the effect it has had on his team.

“Before we got to Arizona for preparation and workouts we had a chat with the players and coaches, and I found that out during the chat,” Rodriguez said. “I saw some pictures, and I went like, ‘Oh my God.’ But it is what it is; they’re having a good time.”It was a very good way to develop and create that chemistry.”

Rodriguez declined to say exactly when he might join his team and bleach his hair, but did say it would likely be before the tournament ends.

“I think before that I have to do it,” he said. “There’s so much pressure from them, I have to do it.”

PITCHING LIKE ACES

The best pitchers the United States has to offer might not be a part of their World Baseball Classic roster, but that hasn’t prevented the U.S. staff from being one of the best units in the tournament.

Despite missing Cy Young Award winners Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer and aces Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Chris Sale and Jake Arrieta, among others, the U.S. has a 2.50 ERA through four games and has held opponents to a .189 batting average.

“It’s hard for me to speak to that because I can’t even sit at the same lunch table as some of those guys,” lefthander Danny Duffy said. “I just tried to fill in wherever I can and do my job. I’ve been feeding off (Chris) Archer and (Marcus) Stroman, and obviously (Drew) Smyly had a heck of a game the other day.

“You know, when I got invited here I just, you know, figured it was a huge honor. If you’re here, it means you’re good enough to be here, and that’s enough for me.”

All in all, the U.S. staff has struck out 44 and walked seven in 36 innings and allowed a miniscule .572 OPS.

“Everybody’s done a good job, 1 through 14, all the pitchers have done a good job,” manager Jim Leyland said. “Obviously you’re pitching against really good lineups now, so very proud of the way they’ve responded so far.”

MRI FOR PRADO

The Marlins said Martin Prado would have an MRI exam on Saturday for a hamstring injury he sustained in Venezuela’s second-round opener against the United States.

Prado hurt his right hamstring running out a grounder in the sixth inning and immediately left the game. Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel announced shortly after that the injury was “pretty serious” and that Prado would miss the rest of the tournament.

Prado has since left San Diego and returned to the Marlins spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla.