Ronny Rodríguez Martinez (born April 17, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Wei Chuan Dragons of Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Rodríguez has also played for the Dominican Republic national baseball team.

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Ronny Rodríguez
Rodriguez with the Tigers in 2019
Wei Chuan Dragons – No. 23
Infielder
Born: (1992-04-17) April 17, 1992 (age 30) Santiago de los caballeros, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: May 31, 2018, for the Detroit Tigers
NPB: April 22, 2021, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB statistics (through 2019 season)
Batting average	.221
Home runs	19
Runs batted in	63
NPB statistics (through 2021 season)
Batting average	.197
Home runs	6
Runs batted in	12
Teams
Detroit Tigers (2018–2019) Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2021)

Career

Rodríguez grew up in the Dominican Republic, but moved to the United States in 2007. He attended high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts, but when his mother became pregnant, putting a strain on the family due to their small house, he dropped out and returned to the Dominican Republic. He signed as an international free agent with the Chicago Cubs in 2008, but the contract was voided when Major League Baseball (MLB) determined he should have been eligible for the MLB draft. MLB suspended Rodríguez for a year. He began working out at the Kansas City Royals complex, but they decreased the signing bonus they were offering Rodríguez, and he did not sign with them.

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians signed Rodríguez as an international free agent in 2010.[1][2]

In 2012, Rodríguez played for the Carolina Mudcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. He and Tony Wolters alternated between playing shortstop and second base.[2][3] He led the team with 19 home runs, and was assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.[4] He played for the Akron RubberDucks of the Class AA Eastern League in 2013 and 2014. Rodríguez endured a wrist injury during spring training in 2015, and rejoined RubberDucks in June.[5] During the winters, Rodríguez plays for Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League.[6][7]

After the 2015 season, Rodríguez was selected to the roster for the Dominican Republic national baseball team at the 2015 WBSC Premier12.[8] He batted 6-for-15 (.400) during the tournament.[9]

During spring training in 2017, Rodríguez competed for a role on the Cleveland Indians' Opening Day roster.[10] He did not make the team.[11] Rodríguez spent the 2017 season with the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League, and batted .291 with 17 home runs.[12] He became a free agent after the season.[13]

Detroit Tigers

On December 16, 2017, Rodríguez signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[14] He began the season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League.[15] On May 30, he hit for the cycle.[16] Rodríguez was named the International League's Player of the Month for May 2018, after he led the league with a .383 batting average, .652 slugging percentage, 44 hits, and 24 runs batted in during the month.[17]

On May 31, 2018, the Tigers purchased Rodríguez's contract from the Mud Hens. He had batted .318 with eight home runs in 48 games for Toledo to that point.[18] Rodríguez made his major league debut that day against the Los Angeles Angels as Detroit's second baseman.[19] He hit an infield single off Andrew Heaney in his first major league at bat.[20] Rodríguez batted 2-for-19 (.105) with six strikeouts for the Tigers before they optioned him to Toledo on June 6.[21] He was recalled on July 5. On August 23, Rodríguez hit his first major league home run off James Shields of the Chicago White Sox.[22] Rodríguez compiled 191 at-bats at the major league level in 2018, posting a .220 batting average with five home runs.

In 2019, Rodríguez was optioned to Toledo to open the season.[23] The Tigers promoted him to the major leagues on April 14.[24] In a May 11 game against the Minnesota Twins, Rodríguez hit a pair of upper-deck home runs for his first career multi-homer game.[25] On August 23, also against the Twins, Rodríguez hit his first career grand slam.[26] Rodríguez finished the 2019 season with a .221 average, 14 home runs, and 43 RBI in 276 major league at-bats.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 9, 2019, Rodríguez was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers from Detroit.[27] On September 14, 2020, Rodríguez was designated for assignment by the Brewers without appearing in a major league game for them.[28] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

On November 27, 2020, Rodríguez signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.[29] On April 22, 2021, Rodríguez made his NPB debut. Rodríguez played in 50 games, hitting .197 with 6 home runs and 12 RBI's.

Wei Chuan Dragons

On January 20, 2022, Rodríguez signed with the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[30]

Personal life

Rodríguez raps under the stage name "El Felino".[1] His first music video was released during the 2017–18 offseason.[31] His uncle, Wilton Chavez, was also a professional baseball player.[1]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ronny Rodríguez.

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
• Ronny Rodriguez on Instagram