#14 Rafael Rodriguez, OF. BD: 7/13/1992. 6'5", 198 lbs. B-R, T-R.
Short Season(Salem-Keizer): .163/.250/.209 in 43 AB's. AZL: .301/.323/.398, 2 HR's, 4 SB in 123 AB.
RafRod, as he has become known in the blogosphere of Giants fandom, left those fans with mixed emotions after his second professional season. He started the season by staying back in extended spring training then going to Salem-Keizer, a higher level than the Rookie Arizona League where he played last season. Unfortunately, Raf struggled against the older players, strained his back and finished the season back in Arizona after a short DL stint. He again hit .300 along with 2 HR's which is 2 more than he hit in 2009.
So where does this leave RafRod in the development game? Well first of all, remember that he played half the season at age 17, so he would have been considered on the young side for a HS draftee had he come out of an American HS last year. Given that, the Arizona League was an age appropriate level for him and he did hit .300 there, including .342 over his last 10 games. I'm still not worried about the power as it will eventually come as he matures. At this point in his career, the most important tool is the hit for average, and he has done that at the age appropriate levels. Speaking of age appropriate, the short season leagues are generally populated with college draftees who are 21-23 yo. Some of RafRod's teammates there were even older! Low A ball has some college draftees in their first full season after short season, but it also has quite a few HS draftees playing their first full season. I wonder if Low A is a more age appropriate level for a 17 yo kid trying to move up from the AZL?
I would think we would see RafRod in Augusta in 2011, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants keep him back in camp again and send him back to S-K. I think he still has a very high ceiling, but is obviously a long term project who may not be ready for the majors until 2015 or even 2016.
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I am dreaming of a Chuckie Jones, Jarrett Parker and RafRod outfield to follow in Augusta.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading what Fred Stanley wrote, I now expect Tommy Joseph to return to Augusta to catch more, as well as, play some 1B. I could see Windster playing 1B when Tommy isn't over there and Dan Burkhart catching when Joesph puts on a first base glove. With LTP in Augusta that would mean that Hector Sanchez is getting the nod to catch in San Jose.
An Augusta lineup of:
1.2B Willoughby
2.CF Parker
3.RF Jones
4.C Joseph / Burkhart
5.1B Windster / Joseph
6.LF Rodriguez / Windster
7.SS Jurica
8.3B Hougesen
9.DH Burkhart
I am getting excited to check these box scores. Is it April yet?
Hey, dreaming is a big part of what this is all about. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteAt his age and prior achievement, barring a drug addiction or a felony or a career ending injury or a psychotic episode, there should not be so many people writing off RafRod. As DrB aptly noted, he has done well in age appropriate leagues. Let's see how well any of the complainers would have done at age 17/18 against 20-21-22 YO college players. Plus, it must be noted that all this was SSS-biased.
ReplyDeleteOf any of the complaints I have seen, I would say that most 17/18 YOs have had similar problems at one time or another. But most of them mature and develop when they are older and are fine. Give him the benefit of the doubt, for now.
Given the complaints I've seen about him, he might need another year of rookie league then Salem-Keizer, in order to grow up more, but he might be ready to take on low-A hitting too. At such a young age, he doesn't have to do much in Augusta to engender greater belief in his abilities, since he's at such a disadvantage. The Giants know his personality better, but I would just challenge him with low-A ball and see what happens, and adjust accordingly. Others have started out season in low-A ball then returned to Salem-Keizer because they weren't ready yet, but then did better as they rose and matured.
I still like RafRod's future potential, but he deserves a low ranking due to how far away he is.