Julio Rodriguez Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	59
AVG	.186
OBP	.238
SLG	.203
HR	0

Full name Julio Yarnel Rodríguez
Born 12/29/2000 in Loma De Cabrera, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 228 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 04/08/2022

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Evaluators considered Rodriguez one of the best players in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Mariners for $1.75 million, but he has exceeded even the highest expectations. Rodriguez dominated the Dominican Summer League and both Class A levels in his first two seasons, earning hyperbolic praise from scouts, coaches and opponents. He suffered a hairline fracture in his left wrist diving for a ball in summer camp in 2020, but he returned with no ill effects in 2021. Rodriguez finished second in the minor leagues with a .347 batting average and seventh with a 1.001 OPS while climbing to Double-A, a performance even more impressive given the repeated interruptions to his season. He left twice to play for the Dominican Republic in Olympic qualifiers in Florida and Mexico and helped the Dominicans qualify for the Summer Games. At the Tokyo Olympics, Rodriguez hit .417 as the youngest player in the tournament to lead the Dominican Republic to the bronze medal, the first Olympic baseball medal in the country’s history.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez is a physical presence at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with the strength and athleticism to take over games. He destroys baseballs with 80-grade raw power and has been known to hit balls out of stadiums. His longest home runs come to his pull side, but he has the strength to drive balls out the other way with shocking ease. Rodriguez has the rare ability to get to his power without sacrificing the ability to hit for average. He is a career .331 hitter in the minors who identifies pitches well and stays short to the ball with a simple approach and direct bat path that allows him to make frequent contact in all parts of the strike zone. His swing occasionally gets too big, but he adjusts quickly within at-bats and doesn’t miss the same pitch twice. He is an adept two-strike hitter for a power hitter who stays on tough pitches and rarely strikes out. A plus-plus hitter with plus-plus game power, Rodriguez further enhances his game with his surprising speed. He is an above-average runner who is adept at reading pitchers and stealing bases, and he covers plenty of ground in all directions in right field. He is particularly advanced at ranging back on balls and keeps runners from taking extra bases with his plus, accurate arm. Rodriguez occasionally loses focus on defense, but he’s an above-average defender when he’s locked in. In addition to his physical skills, Rodriguez is an incredibly charismatic individual and a clubhouse leader. He has been bilingual since he was 18 years old and plays the game with a constant smile on his face, energizing his teammates and lighting up clubhouses with his outgoing, effervescent personality.

The Future: Rodriguez’s talent and personality have him set to be not only the face of the Mariners franchise, but one of the faces of baseball. As long as he stays healthy, he projects to be a perennial all-star and MVP contender who competes for home run titles.
Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez signed with the Mariners during the 2017 international period for $1.75 million. After starting his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2018, he jumped to full-season ball for his first U.S. experience and put up strong numbers at both low Class A West Virginia and high Class A Modesto despite missing nearly two months with a broken left hand. Rodriguez was anything but intimidated by more advanced California League pitchers, batting .462/.514/.738 in 17 games with the Nuts and earning hyperbolic praise from league observers. He also spent time in the Arizona Fall League after the 2019 season to make up for the time he'd lost during the regular season. Rodriguez suffered a hairline fracture in his left wrist diving for a ball during summer camp in 2020 and sat out most of the summer recovering. He made up for lost time with a strong instructional league stint in the fall before reporting to Escogido in the Dominican League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez is a precocious physical specimen often referred to as a "man-child." His elite bat speed and quick hands allow balls off his bat to register big exit velocities—he peaked at 111 mph during instructional league—and his swing takes a solid path through the zone. He has an excellent feel to hit and an advanced ability to make adjustments at the plate. With his natural hitting ability and comically easy plus-plus raw power, Rodiguez projects to be a plus hitter capable of hitting 30-35 home runs per year with power to all fields. As Rodriguez continues to mature in his already-strong body, he projects to be a fringe-average runner who is faster underway than he is getting out of the box. Rodriguez gets good reads and jumps in the outfield and projects to be at least an average defender with solid instincts. He'll settle into right field as a polished defender with an accurate, plus-plus arm. Rodriguez still has some room for development, with scouts seeing him give away at-bats at times, and he'll need to continue to work on his conditioning to keep his solid, muscular body in shape. He is a bright, effervescent individual with outstanding makeup. He rapidly learned English after signing with the Mariners and shows the confidence and personality to be a leader both on and off the field. He started a YouTube show at instructional league in which he interviewed his teammates on a variety of topics.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will be just 20 years old in 2021 and is likely to begin the year in Double-A for his first true taste of the upper levels. While the Mariners have no reason to rush Rodriguez to Seattle, it wouldn't be surprising to see him there before the end of the year if he continues to perform as he can. His talent and personality give him a chance to join Jarred Kelenic as a perennial all-star and one of the Mariners' faces of the franchise through the 2020s, when the team hopes it will end the longest current postseason drought in all of North American sports.
TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez was one of the premier hitters in the 2017 international class and signed with the Mariners for $1.75 million. He won MVP of the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut in 2018 and jumped to low Class A West Virginia to start 2019, where he teamed with fellow top prospect Jarred Kelenic in the outfield.The only speed bump Rodriguez encountered was a broken hand in mid-April that kept him out of action for two months. When on the field, Rodriguez was the talk of scouts, managers and opposing players. The Mariners promoted Rodriguez to high Class A Modesto in August, and he further embellished his lofty reputation by annihilating California League pitchers with a .462/.514/.738 slash line in 17 games. He finished his year in the Arizona Fall League and held his own as one of the youngest players there.

SCOUTING REPORT: Often described as a manchild, Rodriguez packs an impressive set of tools into a large, muscular frame. He has unbelievable feel to hit, especially for his age, and shows a good approach with the ability to retain information and make adjustments at the plate. With plus bat speed and quick hands, Rodriguez shows a swing with a solid bat path through the zone. He controls the zone well and struck out just a shade over 20 percent of the time in 2019. Rodriguez's most exhilarating tool is his plus-plus raw power to all fields. He makes loud contact and projects to hit for both average and power when he's fully developed. Rodriguez is no more than an average runner now and will slow with age, especially since he's already getting thicker in his lower half. He split time between center and right field, but a plus-plus arm profiles him perfectly for right field. Rodriguez gets good reads and jumps in the outfield, projecting to be an average defender. Rodriguez has outstanding makeup and character and is frequently described as a joy to be around. He has learned English rapidly and takes pride in being able to do interviews in his second language.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will continue to be pushed quickly through the Mariners' system, with some observers saying it wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the major leagues as a teenager. He has a chance to break camp with Double-A Arkansas to start 2020 and gives the Mariners a potential franchise, middle-of-the-order hitter to build around.
Track Record: Rodriguez dominated the Dominican Summer League just one year after signing with the Mariners for $1.75 million. Named the team MVP after posting a .929 OPS, Rodriguez's season ended in mid-August when he injured a foot attempting to steal a base, but he was able to participate in the Mariners' fall development programs.

Scouting Report: A smart hitter for his age with very good control of the zone and the ability make adjustments at the plate, Rodriguez's loudest tool is his plus-plus raw power, which already ranks among the best in the organization. His rhythmic righthanded swing gives him a solid bat path through the zone. While only an average runner, he runs the bases well. Rodriguez should develop solid instincts and routes in right field, where he should be at least an average defender. He gained enough arm strength since signing that his arm now earns a 70 grade.

The Future: Rodriguez has as much upside as any prospect in the Mariners' organization. His advanced baseball acumen and tool set may allow him to start his U.S. career at short-season Everett or perhaps even low Class A West Virginia. It would not be a surprise to see Rodriguez at the top of the Mariners' prospect list heading into 2020.
One of the premier international talents on the market in 2017 mainly because of his easy power and feel to hit, Rodriguez signed with the Mariners for $1.75 million. He has yet to play an official game with the Mariners, but already ranks as having the best power in the organization. Rodriguez got his first taste of game action in the fall in Dominican instructional league, with positive reports coming from his performance there. While plus-plus raw power is Rodriguez's loudest tool, he is a quality hitter with the ability to retain information and make adjustments at the plate. He has quick hands and good bat speed, with a rhythmic righthanded swing that produces a solid bat path through the zone. He takes aggressive hacks at the plate and will have to learn to handle offspeed pitches. An average runner now, Rodriguez projects to slow down as he ages but still retain enough speed and baserunning acumen to take the extra base. Rodriguez is athletic enough to handle any outfield position, but a plus arm profiles him for right field. Rodriguez will launch his pro career in the summer of 2018 at age 17, either in the Dominican Summer League or the Rookie-level Arizona League.

Minor League Top Prospects

Rodriguez has posted 115-plus mph exit velocities, showing he can consistently hit the ball as hard as almost anyone in the minors. But because he doesn’t loft the ball consistently, he’s more likely to hit a stinging single or double than a home run. That is similar to what Wander Franco and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did in the minors. Not coincidentally, Rodriguez’s .329 career batting average is comparable to Franco (.332) and Guerrero (.331). The bigger revelation has been Rodriguez’s speed. He has gotten faster, to the point where he was a consistent threat to beat out infield hits. He finished the year with 15 infield hits, including 10 In the final two months of the season. The Mariners also moved him to center field for 12 of the final 24 games in the season, and while he’s likely still a future right fielder, he showed at least the ability to play there in a pinch.
Though his time in the league was brief and fractured by a pair of stints with the Dominican Republic Olympic team, Rodriguez established himself as the clear-cut best prospect in the league. He was so feared that rival teams sent out grateful messages on social media when the Mariners promoted Rodriguez to Double-A. The precocious Rodriguez has a chance to hit for high doses of average and power because exceptional bat speed, strength and a strong knowledge of the strike zone. He kept on hitting once he got to the upper levels, further establishing himself as one of the very best prospects in the game. Rodriguez does need to clean up some aspects of his game away from the plate, with some evaluators noting the need for cleaner routes and more consistent concentration overall on defense. His arm is close to average, and he should settle in as an ideally molded right fielder.
A hand injury sidelined him from mid-April to mid-June, but when he returned, Rodriguez was nearly as impressive as Jarred Kelenic, his teammate and fellow outfielder. Rodriguez’s approach and understanding of how pitchers would try to attack him was far beyond his 18 years. "He has an unbelievable feel for hitting," West Virginia manager David Berg said. "He’ll take a pitch, and you can see he’s thinking, ‘I’ve got him,’" Rodriguez had some of the best power potential in the league to go with his ability to lay off pitches until he found something to drive. He played his way out of the league in early August with seven multi-hit games in his final 13. Rodriguez played both center and right field for West Virginia and is an above-average runner, but Kelenic is more likely to stay in center. Rodriguez is more of a prototypical right fielder. He has a plus arm that fits well in right, and he showed his athleticism by leaping to rob numerous home runs.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Seattle Mariners in 2020
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Seattle Mariners in 2020
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Seattle Mariners in 2019

Scouting Reports

Track Record: Evaluators considered Rodriguez one of the best players in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Mariners for $1.75 million, but he has exceeded even the highest expectations. Rodriguez dominated the Dominican Summer League and both Class A levels in his first two seasons, earning hyperbolic praise from scouts, coaches and opponents. He suffered a hairline fracture in his left wrist diving for a ball in summer camp in 2020, but he returned with no ill effects in 2021. Rodriguez finished second in the minor leagues with a .347 batting average and seventh with a 1.001 OPS while climbing to Double-A, a performance even more impressive given the repeated interruptions to his season. He left twice to play for the Dominican Republic in Olympic qualifiers in Florida and Mexico and helped the Dominicans qualify for the Summer Games. At the Tokyo Olympics, Rodriguez hit .417 as the youngest player in the tournament to lead the Dominican Republic to the bronze medal, the first Olympic baseball medal in the country’s history.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez is a physical presence at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with the strength and athleticism to take over games. He destroys baseballs with 80-grade raw power and has been known to hit balls out of stadiums. His longest home runs come to his pull side, but he has the strength to drive balls out the other way with shocking ease. Rodriguez has the rare ability to get to his power without sacrificing the ability to hit for average. He is a career .331 hitter in the minors who identifies pitches well and stays short to the ball with a simple approach and direct bat path that allows him to make frequent contact in all parts of the strike zone. His swing occasionally gets too big, but he adjusts quickly within at-bats and doesn’t miss the same pitch twice. He is an adept two-strike hitter for a power hitter who stays on tough pitches and rarely strikes out. A plus-plus hitter with plus-plus game power, Rodriguez further enhances his game with his surprising speed. He is an above-average runner who is adept at reading pitchers and stealing bases, and he covers plenty of ground in all directions in right field. He is particularly advanced at ranging back on balls and keeps runners from taking extra bases with his plus, accurate arm. Rodriguez occasionally loses focus on defense, but he’s an above-average defender when he’s locked in. In addition to his physical skills, Rodriguez is an incredibly charismatic individual and a clubhouse leader. He has been bilingual since he was 18 years old and plays the game with a constant smile on his face, energizing his teammates and lighting up clubhouses with his outgoing, effervescent personality.

The Future: Rodriguez’s talent and personality have him set to be not only the face of the Mariners franchise, but one of the faces of baseball. As long as he stays healthy, he projects to be a perennial all-star and MVP contender who competes for home run titles.
Though his time in the league was brief and fractured by a pair of stints with the Dominican Republic Olympic team, Rodriguez established himself as the clear-cut best prospect in the league. He was so feared that rival teams sent out grateful messages on social media when the Mariners promoted Rodriguez to Double-A. The precocious Rodriguez has a chance to hit for high doses of average and power because exceptional bat speed, strength and a strong knowledge of the strike zone. He kept on hitting once he got to the upper levels, further establishing himself as one of the very best prospects in the game. Rodriguez does need to clean up some aspects of his game away from the plate, with some evaluators noting the need for cleaner routes and more consistent concentration overall on defense. His arm is close to average, and he should settle in as an ideally molded right fielder.
Rodriguez has posted 115-plus mph exit velocities, showing he can consistently hit the ball as hard as almost anyone in the minors. But because he doesn’t loft the ball consistently, he’s more likely to hit a stinging single or double than a home run. That is similar to what Wander Franco and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did in the minors. Not coincidentally, Rodriguez’s .329 career batting average is comparable to Franco (.332) and Guerrero (.331). The bigger revelation has been Rodriguez’s speed. He has gotten faster, to the point where he was a consistent threat to beat out infield hits. He finished the year with 15 infield hits, including 10 In the final two months of the season. The Mariners also moved him to center field for 12 of the final 24 games in the season, and while he’s likely still a future right fielder, he showed at least the ability to play there in a pinch.
Rodriguez hit his way out of High-A Everett after just 28 games, led the Dominican Republic to the Olympics and raked once he arrived at Double-A in late June. He improved the quality of his at-bats, was more consistent from game-to-game and proved he can handle upper-level stuff, cementing his potential as a franchise-caliber player. The only knock on Rodriguez is his occasional lack of focus on defense results in avoidable mistakes, but he has the physical tools to be at least an average defender.
Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez signed with the Mariners during the 2017 international period for $1.75 million. After starting his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2018, he jumped to full-season ball for his first U.S. experience and put up strong numbers at both low Class A West Virginia and high Class A Modesto despite missing nearly two months with a broken left hand. Rodriguez was anything but intimidated by more advanced California League pitchers, batting .462/.514/.738 in 17 games with the Nuts and earning hyperbolic praise from league observers. He also spent time in the Arizona Fall League after the 2019 season to make up for the time he'd lost during the regular season. Rodriguez suffered a hairline fracture in his left wrist diving for a ball during summer camp in 2020 and sat out most of the summer recovering. He made up for lost time with a strong instructional league stint in the fall before reporting to Escogido in the Dominican League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez is a precocious physical specimen often referred to as a "man-child." His elite bat speed and quick hands allow balls off his bat to register big exit velocities—he peaked at 111 mph during instructional league—and his swing takes a solid path through the zone. He has an excellent feel to hit and an advanced ability to make adjustments at the plate. With his natural hitting ability and comically easy plus-plus raw power, Rodiguez projects to be a plus hitter capable of hitting 30-35 home runs per year with power to all fields. As Rodriguez continues to mature in his already-strong body, he projects to be a fringe-average runner who is faster underway than he is getting out of the box. Rodriguez gets good reads and jumps in the outfield and projects to be at least an average defender with solid instincts. He'll settle into right field as a polished defender with an accurate, plus-plus arm. Rodriguez still has some room for development, with scouts seeing him give away at-bats at times, and he'll need to continue to work on his conditioning to keep his solid, muscular body in shape. He is a bright, effervescent individual with outstanding makeup. He rapidly learned English after signing with the Mariners and shows the confidence and personality to be a leader both on and off the field. He started a YouTube show at instructional league in which he interviewed his teammates on a variety of topics.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will be just 20 years old in 2021 and is likely to begin the year in Double-A for his first true taste of the upper levels. While the Mariners have no reason to rush Rodriguez to Seattle, it wouldn't be surprising to see him there before the end of the year if he continues to perform as he can. His talent and personality give him a chance to join Jarred Kelenic as a perennial all-star and one of the Mariners' faces of the franchise through the 2020s, when the team hopes it will end the longest current postseason drought in all of North American sports.
Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez signed with the Mariners during the 2017 international period for $1.75 million. After starting his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2018, he jumped to full-season ball for his first U.S. experience and put up strong numbers at both low Class A West Virginia and high Class A Modesto despite missing nearly two months with a broken left hand. Rodriguez was anything but intimidated by more advanced California League pitchers, batting .462/.514/.738 in 17 games with the Nuts and earning hyperbolic praise from league observers. He also spent time in the Arizona Fall League after the 2019 season to make up for the time he'd lost during the regular season. Rodriguez suffered a hairline fracture in his left wrist diving for a ball during summer camp in 2020 and sat out most of the summer recovering. He made up for lost time with a strong instructional league stint in the fall before reporting to Escogido in the Dominican League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez is a precocious physical specimen often referred to as a "man-child." His elite bat speed and quick hands allow balls off his bat to register big exit velocities—he peaked at 111 mph during instructional league—and his swing takes a solid path through the zone. He has an excellent feel to hit and an advanced ability to make adjustments at the plate. With his natural hitting ability and comically easy plus-plus raw power, Rodiguez projects to be a plus hitter capable of hitting 30-35 home runs per year with power to all fields. As Rodriguez continues to mature in his already-strong body, he projects to be a fringe-average runner who is faster underway than he is getting out of the box. Rodriguez gets good reads and jumps in the outfield and projects to be at least an average defender with solid instincts. He'll settle into right field as a polished defender with an accurate, plus-plus arm. Rodriguez still has some room for development, with scouts seeing him give away at-bats at times, and he'll need to continue to work on his conditioning to keep his solid, muscular body in shape. He is a bright, effervescent individual with outstanding makeup. He rapidly learned English after signing with the Mariners and shows the confidence and personality to be a leader both on and off the field. He started a YouTube show at instructional league in which he interviewed his teammates on a variety of topics.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will be just 20 years old in 2021 and is likely to begin the year in Double-A for his first true taste of the upper levels. While the Mariners have no reason to rush Rodriguez to Seattle, it wouldn't be surprising to see him there before the end of the year if he continues to perform as he can. His talent and personality give him a chance to join Jarred Kelenic as a perennial all-star and one of the Mariners' faces of the franchise through the 2020s, when the team hopes it will end the longest current postseason drought in all of North American sports.
TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez was one of the premier hitters in the 2017 international class and signed with the Mariners for $1.75 million. He won MVP of the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut in 2018 and jumped to low Class A West Virginia to start 2019, where he teamed with fellow top prospect Jarred Kelenic in the outfield.The only speed bump Rodriguez encountered was a broken hand in mid-April that kept him out of action for two months. When on the field, Rodriguez was the talk of scouts, managers and opposing players. The Mariners promoted Rodriguez to high Class A Modesto in August, and he further embellished his lofty reputation by annihilating California League pitchers with a .462/.514/.738 slash line in 17 games. He finished his year in the Arizona Fall League and held his own as one of the youngest players there.

SCOUTING REPORT: Often described as a manchild, Rodriguez packs an impressive set of tools into a large, muscular frame. He has unbelievable feel to hit, especially for his age, and shows a good approach with the ability to retain information and make adjustments at the plate. With plus bat speed and quick hands, Rodriguez shows a swing with a solid bat path through the zone. He controls the zone well and struck out just a shade over 20 percent of the time in 2019. Rodriguez’s most exhilarating tool is his plus-plus raw power to all fields. He makes loud contact and projects to hit for both average and power when he’s fully developed. Rodriguez is no more than an average runner now and will slow with age, especially since he’s already getting thicker in his lower half. He split time between center and right field, but a plus-plus arm profiles him perfectly for right field. Rodriguez gets good reads and jumps in the outfield, projecting to be an average defender. Rodriguez has outstanding makeup and character and is frequently described as a joy to be around. He has learned English rapidly and takes pride in being able to do interviews in his second language.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will continue to be pushed quickly through the Mariners’ system, with some observers saying it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the major leagues as a teenager. He has a chance to break camp with Double-A Arkansas to start 2020 and gives the Mariners a potential franchise, middle-of-the-order hitter to build around. SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 70. Power: 70. Run: 45. Field: 50. Arm: 70. BA GRADE 70 Risk: High
TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez was one of the premier hitters in the 2017 international class and signed with the Mariners for $1.75 million. He won MVP of the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut in 2018 and jumped to low Class A West Virginia to start 2019, where he teamed with fellow top prospect Jarred Kelenic in the outfield.The only speed bump Rodriguez encountered was a broken hand in mid-April that kept him out of action for two months. When on the field, Rodriguez was the talk of scouts, managers and opposing players. The Mariners promoted Rodriguez to high Class A Modesto in August, and he further embellished his lofty reputation by annihilating California League pitchers with a .462/.514/.738 slash line in 17 games. He finished his year in the Arizona Fall League and held his own as one of the youngest players there.

SCOUTING REPORT: Often described as a manchild, Rodriguez packs an impressive set of tools into a large, muscular frame. He has unbelievable feel to hit, especially for his age, and shows a good approach with the ability to retain information and make adjustments at the plate. With plus bat speed and quick hands, Rodriguez shows a swing with a solid bat path through the zone. He controls the zone well and struck out just a shade over 20 percent of the time in 2019. Rodriguez's most exhilarating tool is his plus-plus raw power to all fields. He makes loud contact and projects to hit for both average and power when he's fully developed. Rodriguez is no more than an average runner now and will slow with age, especially since he's already getting thicker in his lower half. He split time between center and right field, but a plus-plus arm profiles him perfectly for right field. Rodriguez gets good reads and jumps in the outfield, projecting to be an average defender. Rodriguez has outstanding makeup and character and is frequently described as a joy to be around. He has learned English rapidly and takes pride in being able to do interviews in his second language.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will continue to be pushed quickly through the Mariners' system, with some observers saying it wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the major leagues as a teenager. He has a chance to break camp with Double-A Arkansas to start 2020 and gives the Mariners a potential franchise, middle-of-the-order hitter to build around.
A hand injury sidelined him from mid-April to mid-June, but when he returned, Rodriguez was nearly as impressive as Jarred Kelenic, his teammate and fellow outfielder. Rodriguez’s approach and understanding of how pitchers would try to attack him was far beyond his 18 years. "He has an unbelievable feel for hitting," West Virginia manager David Berg said. "He’ll take a pitch, and you can see he’s thinking, ‘I’ve got him,’" Rodriguez had some of the best power potential in the league to go with his ability to lay off pitches until he found something to drive. He played his way out of the league in early August with seven multi-hit games in his final 13. Rodriguez played both center and right field for West Virginia and is an above-average runner, but Kelenic is more likely to stay in center. Rodriguez is more of a prototypical right fielder. He has a plus arm that fits well in right, and he showed his athleticism by leaping to rob numerous home runs.