Henry Rodriguez Can Hit and Is Learning the Other Facets

David Bell ran down the Reds' top prospects two weeks ago.

Henry Rodriguez hits against Buffalo

Henry Rodriguez is 22 years old.  He was born in Maracay, Venezuela.  As a switch hitting infielder, Rodriguez' bat will get him to the major leagues.

The 5' 10" 150 lb. hitter was signed by the Reds as an undrafted free agent in 2007 at 17 years old.  After two seasons in the Venezuelan and Dominican Rookie Leagues, Rodriguez spent one season in the Gulf Coast Rookie League and has since made two minor league stops each season.

Rodriguez hit .305 in Dayton and Lynchburg in 2010.  He made two more stops at Bakersfield and Carolina last season, ending the season with Bell as his coach.  Last season Rodriguez hit .340 at Bakersfield then was promoted mid-season to Double A Carolina, meeting David Bell in the process.  He hit a combined .320 with 13 home runs, a triple and 36 doubles.  He drove in 83 runs while scoring 76 with 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts.

Rodriguez played a lot during the Reds' spring training in Goodyear, Arizona.

An injured hand kept him in extended spring when the season started.  He was assigned to Double A Pensacola once he healed, hitting .348 with two home runs and 15 RBI before he was promoted to Louisville.  He was reunited there with Bell.

"Once he was fully recovered from his hand injury, they sent him right here which is great.  This guy can hit," Bell said.  "It was determined for his development that he be here in Triple A.  I completely agree," Bell said.

Rodriguez is being challenged by the better Triple A pitching but Bell has no doubt about his progression as he has hit .256 in 31 games.

"He is more than handling it.  He can put the bat on the ball.  He can hit at any level.  He can hit the fastball," Bell said.

Most young hitters are drafted because they can hit the fastball but Bell points out that Rodriguez has a mature approach to hitting the off-speed pitches.

"He has played some highly competitive baseball in Venezuela," Bell said.  "He is just one of those guys who can put the bat on the ball.  Defensively, he is really working on it.  He is really determined to be as good defensively as he is offensively."

Rodriguez has shown Bell the determination to make it to the big leagues as soon as possible, knowing what it takes not only at the plate but defensively and base running.

Rodriguez played a lot of secondbase in Goodyear at the back end of spring training games.  He can play shortstop and with the promotion of Didi Gregorius, has played a lot of thirdbase in Louisville.

The thirdbaseman has struggled in his last 10 games with a 4-for-39 slump.  Eleven of his 39 strikeouts have come in his last 10 games.  Prior to the slump, Rodriguez fanned just eight time in 20 Triple A games and 20 times in 38 games prior to his promotion to the Bats.

This spring he made the Southern League All-Star team.

Professionally edited by ML Schirmer
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