Going from St. Mary’s park in The Bronx to being three games away from a World Series trip isn’t a career path taken by many, or any.
However, for Johnny Rodriguez, it was the only one available. And one the New York native, against very long odds, successfully navigated.
Undrafted out of Brandeis High School in 1996, Rodriguez was playing in the Puerto Rico League at St.
Mary’s Park on 142nd Street in the shadows of the Triborough Bridge when Cesar Presbott, a Yankees scout, noticed a swing that was raw but had potential.
That November, the Yankees signed the left-handhitting outfielder for $1,000 and invited him to spring training in March. According to the chalk, Rodriguez was going to be used as minorleague fodder and nothing more, but he would have an experience to share with his New York buddies.
A decade later, Rodriguez is the Cardinals’ best pinchhitter in his second bigleague season.
“This is my second year in the big leagues and my second postseason. I am starting to feel like Derek Jeter,” 28-year-old Rodriguez said with a chuckle.
Rodriguez appeared in 56 games for the 2005 Cardinals (he batted .295) and hitless in three postseason atbats.
This year Rodriguez hit .301 in 102 games and was 0-for-3 combined against San Diego (0-for-1) in the NLDS and the Mets (0-for-2) in the NLCS that shifted to Busch Stadium last night.
Rodriguez, who was 11-for-47 (.234) as a pinchhitter this season, whiffed in NLCS Game 1 and again in Game 2. Yet for someone to come as far as Rodriguez has, that wasn’t going to get him down.
After eight years in the Yankees system with some success as a hitter, Rodriguez moved to the Indians as a free agent after the 2004 season. Midway through the 2005 season, while playing for Buffalo (Triple-A), Rodriguez was dealt to the Cardinals.
In his case, the third organization was the charm. A career .271 minor-league hitter, Rodriguez carries a .298 average in 158 big-league games.
That’s a long way from St.
Mary’s Park.
“I never gave up,” Rodriguez said. “I thought it was going to be hard and it was, but I never gave up. I knew I was one of those guys who had the love of the game.
Like I said, they gave me $1,000, but if I showed what I could do my chance would come.” Having lived in Manhattan and The Bronx, Rodriguez calls Staten Island home. And though reaching the big leagues may be the end-all for someone who traveled Rodriguez’s road, he wants more than being a pinch-hitting specialist.
“I think if I hit for more power, I would have had a chance to [play regularly],” said Rodriguez, who has five homers in 332 bigleague at-bats. “They brought up [Chris] Duncan and he did a good job [22 homers this season] and he deserves to be the everyday player. I am happy to be here and happy to contribute to the team.” For a kid who grew up a Yankees fan then signed with them, it was obvious Rodriguez’s dream was to play for the Bombers.
“I was hoping they gave me the opportunity but it never came about,” Rodriguez said. “It’s all fine here.”
