John Rodriguez [Baseball '14]

John Rodriguez played for Connors State Cowboys Head Baseball Coach Perry Keith during the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

Following Rodriguez’s graduation from Connors, he was an undrafted free agent signee by the New York Yankees in 1996. He was previously drafted right out of Brandeis High School in New York in the 16th round (425th pick) by the San Diego Padres, but did not sign, instead opting to play at Connors State for Coach Keith.

After graduating from Connors, Rodriguez signed with New York and was in the Yankees’ minor league system for eight years before signing with the Cleveland Indians in 2005. He was traded to the Cardinals later that season and was called up from the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds to replace the injured Reggie Sanders in St. Louis. While at Triple-A Memphis, Rodriguez hit .342 with 17 home runs.

He performed well enough that the Cardinals signed him to a one-year contract following the season. On July 20, 2005, Rodriguez hit his first home run off Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rodriguez got more playing time for the 2006 Cardinals and was on the postseason roster, winning a World Series ring when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series.

In two Major League seasons, 2005 and 2006 with the Cardinals, Rodriguez hit .298, with 7 home runs and collected 43 RBIs.

In two Major League seasons, 2005 and 2006 with the Cardinals, Rodriguez hit .298, with 7 home runs and collected 43 RBIs.

After being released by St. Louis in 2007, Rodriguez played in the Tampa Bay, New York Mets, New York Yankees minor league systems, before signing with Veracruz of the Mexican League in 2011 and with Wichita in the American Association in 2012 before retiring.

The former Cowboy is currently an instructor at a Baseball Academy in Manhattan, New York.