John Rodriguez (baseball)

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=John Rodríguez
position=Right field
team=New York Mets
number=5
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|1|20
debutdate=July 18
debutyear=2005
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
statyear=2006
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.298
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=7
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=43
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|2005-by|2006)

John Joseph Rodriguez (born January 20, 1978 in New York, New York), is a Major League baseball player for the New York Mets organization. He plays outfield, but is generally known more for his hitting than his fielding. He spent 9 years in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut on July 18, by|2005, with the Cardinals. He was finally called up to replace the injured Reggie Sanders, and performed well enough that the Cardinals signed him to a one-year contract following the season. On July 20, 2005, Rodriguez hit his first career home run off Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rodriguez got more playing time for the by|2006 Cardinals (183 at bats, 34 more than the year before) and was on the postseason roster, winning a championship ring when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series. Rodriguez was hitless in his only World Series at bat.

Rodriguez gave himself the nickname "J-Rod" when he first came to the Cardinals, as his hitting prowess at the time was akin to "A-Rod" Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez has stated he is not a big fan of this nickname.

On November 30, by|2007, the Cardinals designated Rodriguez for assignment, removing him from the 40-man roster to make room for newly-acquired shortstop, Cesar Izturis. [Strauss, Joe. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/EAC9E2342BE58705862573A400164658?OpenDocument "Izturis deal nudges out Eckstein."] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2007-12-01. Retrieved on 2007-12-07. ] It was shortly thereafter the team decided to release him. [Strauss, Joe. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/F68C02C1694D92A0862573A90017568B?OpenDocument "LaRussa: Now, it's personal."] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2007-12-06. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.]

Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on January 4, by|2008, but did not make the major league team out of spring training. On June 2, 2008, Rodriguez was released. On June 8, Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets and was assigned to Triple-A New Orleans.

As of July 25, 2008 he was hitting .296 with 4 home runs and 19 RBIs.

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