When Manny Rodriguez arrived in the United States from the Dominican Republic last year, he didn’t speak English, but he knew about the Monroe High School baseball team.
“Everyone has heard of them,” Rodriguez said through a translator. “Everyone knows about Danny.”
“Danny,” is Danny Almonte, who led the Eagles to a pair of PSAL titles, although he didn’t play in last year’s championship game at Shea Stadium. Instead, Dawin Rivas hurled a four-hit shutout in a 4-0 victory over George Washington.
Rodriguez, a burly, 6-foot-2 third baseman who knows Almonte, intends to play today when top-seeded Monroe faces No. 3 Tottenville for the title at 7 p.m. at KeySpan Park, although he doesn’t know when or where he will suit up after that.
During the season, Monroe coach Mike Turo learned that Rodriguez was a year older than he thought – he will turn 19 later this month – and although only a junior academically, would be ineligible to play next season. He also is unlikely to be selected on the second day of the MLB draft.
“Scouts didn’t really look at him closely early on because they thought he had another year,” Turo said. “So he’ll probably go to a junior college.”
Rodriguez’s draft prospects also were hurt because he didn’t have that good a regular season.
“He didn’t hit,” one major league scout said earlier this week. “That’s all that matters.”
But Rodriguez has come alive in the postseason, hitting three home runs and driving in 13 runs in five games.
“I thought he would have more power,” Turo said of Rodriguez, who is living with his brother in The Bronx. “But I think the cold weather bothered him. Now that it’s warm, we’re seeing what he can do.”
The Eagles already know what they can get out of Dawin Rivas, whom Turo is considering making his starting pitcher tonight.
A year ago, Rivas unexpectedly got the start at Shea and made the most of the opportunity in the complete game shutout.
“I was surprised,” said Rivas, who will vie with Delgis Soto for the starting spot. “But now I know I can do it. We all do, so that gives us confidence.”
