Future Reds Watch Young Yorman Rodriguez Heating Up In The Cold Rain

Yorman Rodriguez had two hits including a long three-run home run off Kevin Eichorn to lead the Dayton Dragons to a damp 6-2 win over Detroit's West Michigan Whitecaps.

The 18-year old from Ocumare de la Costa, Venezuela was signed in 2008 on his 16th birthday.  The 6'2" 184 pound centerfielder hit .339 at Billings last season with two home runs and 39 RBI.

Rodriguez entered the game with a .188 batting average but is 7-for-18 (.389) during his current six-game hitting streak  He has three home runs and 13 RBI..

Rodriguez was robbed in his last at bat by centerfielder Luis Castillo.

"I've been working hard everyday,  There's been no difference," Rodriguez said.

The weather has been cold and wet all month.  For an 18-year old from the land of palm trees, not only does he have to adjust to better competition but he has to battle the weather.

"It was a little cold in Billings," Rodriguez said.  "This weather is harder to adjust to."

Delino DeShields, the first year Dragons manager, played for five teams in his 13 major league seasons.

"Yorman is a passionate kid about the game," DeShields said.  "He wanted to get off to a good start here.  He was beating himself up earlier.  I told him its a marathon.  Nobody will remember April in a couple months."

Dragon starter, Daniel Tuttle, drafted by the Reds in the fifth round in 2009, the Mike Leake draft pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. The 21-year old is in line for his second win of the season.

Since getting beat up by Lansing on April 15, Tuttle, has allowed just three earned runs over his last 18 innings for a 1.50 ERA.

"For all these kids its about controlling your emotions.  You have to have a short memory, not only from game to game but at bat to at bat.  It's a learning curve.  It's the emotional part of the game that I want them to control," DeShields said.

White Cap pitcher Kevin Eichorn struck out 11 and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning but fell apart in his last two innings.  Eichorn came to Detroit in the trade that sent Armando Gallaraga to the Arizona Diamonbacks.  He is the son of  Mark Eichorn, who pitched 11 seasons for Toronto, Atlanta, California and Baltimore.