Josh Rodriguez

Josh Rodriguez
Oakland Athletics
Infielder
Born: (1984-12-18) December 18, 1984 Houston, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 5, 2011, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics (through 2011 season)
Batting average	.083
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	1
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (2011)

Joshua Joel Rodriguez (born December 18, 1984) is an American professional baseball infielder in the Oakland Athletics organization. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Amateur career

Rodriguez attended Rice University. There, he played college baseball for the Rice Owls baseball team in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. He was named WAC Freshman of the Year in 2004 and the Third Team NCAA Division I All-American third baseman in 2006, the year after Rice joined Conference USA.

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

Rodriguez was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Rodriguez played for the Class AA Akron Aeros of the Eastern League (EL) in 2008, 2009, and the first part of 2010. On May 18, 2010, Rodriguez was promoted to the Class AAA Columbus Clippers of the International League (IL). He hit .293 in 86 games.

Pittsburgh Pirates

In December 2010, the Pirates selected Rodriguez with the first overall pick of the 2010 Rule 5 draft. Under the rules regarding Rule 5 players, Rodriguez had to stay on the team's major league roster for the entire 2011 season, or be offered back to the Indians.

On March 27, 2011. the Pirates announced that Rodriguez would be on the team's Opening Day roster, after infielder Pedro Ciriaco was optioned to the AAA Indianapolis Indians. Pirates general manager Neal Huntington stated Rodriguez proved during spring training that he is adept enough defensively to hold his own in the big leagues. Huntington also added that "[Rodriguez] is not your typical Rule 5 guy. He's a little better-equipped to handle the major league environment than a typical Rule 5 guy." The announcement of Rodriguez being named to the Pirates Opening Day roster came moments after he and Ciriaco helped the team defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in a spring training game by scoring on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Pirates a 5-4 victory. He was designated for assignment on April 22 to make room for Brandon Wood on the roster. The Cleveland Indians reacquired him on April 29 and assigned him to AAA Columbus. However, he was traded back to Pittsburgh on June 21 for cash considerations. In the Pirates minor league system, he played for the Indianapolis Indians of the IL and the Altoona Curve of the EL. In the 2011 season he played for Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Altoona, and Columbus.

New York Mets

On March 29, 2012, Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. Rodriguez began the year with the Binghamton Mets of the EL. He was named EL Player of the Week on April 23.

Miami Marlins

Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins in January 2014.

Second Stint with Mets

On March 8, 2015, Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He was assigned to the AAA Las Vegas 51s. On April 2, 2015 he was demoted to the AA Binghamton Mets.

Oakland Athletics

Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics on November 25, 2015. He began the 2016 season with the Double-A Midland RockHounds, but was promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in late April.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• MiLB.com player profile

• Pirates designate Josh Rodriguez for assignment
• http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012204230361