Nelson Rodriguez Jr. still carries memories of his father, who died of ALS when he was 10. When the New York City star is possibly drafted, a near-lock, he'll be continuing the dream he and his father, a former minor league player, shared.
Photo by Jim Stout
would watch and wonder.
He was too young to realize what was going on. Why dad couldn't have a catch with him. Why dad couldn't come to his games, or show him how to hit. Why mom had to wash dad, take care of him. Why dad was bedridden and couldn't move his hands and arms. Why, eventually, dad had to go to the Dominican Republic.
Rodriguez has improved behind theplate but his future might be atanother position.
Photo by Jim Stout
Nelson Rodriguez Sr. was gradually crumbling before his young son's eyes. He suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, or more commonly referred to in the United States as Lou Gehrig's disease. Nelson Jr. watched as the ravages of Lou Gehrig's disease tore his father down.
One of the nation's best catchers, Rodriguez likes to think dad is looking down on him these days. How proud the man who introduced him to baseball would be to see him today hitting just less than .500, with five homers and 38 RBIs for
Washington (New York City).
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Rodriguez lost his father to Lou Gehrig's disease in 2004, when he was 10. It was always Nelson Sr.'s dream to see his son one day play in the majors, and Rodriguez is riding the upward arc toward living it.
There's a strong chance he won't get out of the first two rounds of Major League Baseball's amateur draft, beginning June 4. Rodriguez possesses a cannon arm, great feet, a high baseball IQ, but more importantly, an ability to hit. His college destination is mapped out, between Central Arizona Junior College or Virginia Tech.
In all probability, Rodriguez won't get to either school. He'll follow the path his father forged when his dad first put a bat in his bassinet as a baby.
"When I was born, my father bought a bat and there are pictures of me with that bat," the very gregarious youngster said with a laugh. "My father got signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and he got released. But he played a few years in the minors. My father used to work with me when I was 7, 8 years old all of the time. That's when I started to take the game more seriously.
"When my father passed away from Lou Gehrig's in 2004, I didn't really understand what was going on. I'd just watch my mother taking care of him all of the time. My mother took him to the Dominican Republic because we couldn't take care of him anymore. You look back and it wasn't easy. My father is my motivation every day. I want to be like him and make it to the majors."
Rodriguez found out just how strong his mother, Detronila Mendez, is.
"She's been my mother and father since I was 10," he said. "When she was younger, she used to play basketball."
It's where Rodriguez gets his nimble, quick feet for someone his size. Actually, his size is gradually deflating. He's lost 20 pounds since last spring by eating right and working out.
Washington coaching legend Steve Mandl has known Rodriguez since he was 9. Mandl has witnessed his development and transition from a hefty third baseman to a catcher who commands the game.
Nelson Rodriguez Jr.
Photo by Jim Stout
"Nelson was always a hitter, and he will always be a hitter," Mandl said. "I heard a little bit that Nelson won't be a catcher at the next level, and that upsets me a little bit. He loves catching and he's worked so hard at it. He still needs a little work. Sometimes he won't frame well, but he's always blocked well. He's going to improve. The things he needs to improve on are teachable things that he can work on. He has a cannon arm, and he calls a very good game. I have no problems with Nelson calling a game, and occasionally I'll ask him what he's going to throw. We're usually on the same page."
Rodriguez also has great instincts. Mandl recently wanted take a little less strain off Rodriguez by playing him in right field in the second game of a doubleheader. A great indication of his athletic ability came early, when a hitter drove a shot to deep right-center field. Rodriguez zeroed in and caught it.
"Nelson made the catch because he reads the ball so well and he got a good jump on it, which tells you he has great baseball instincts," Mandl said. "If he catches or plays first base, it won't matter, because Nelson is going to wind up in a good spot. I used to hope they don't move him because he loves to catch. But if a team wants to move him, it would prolong his career and he'd get better stats. The bottom line is as long as Nelson plays, he'll be happy."
Rodriguez seems to be perpetually jovial. It's his magnetic personality that draws teammates, teachers at Washington and coaches toward him. He's a true leader, which is what a catcher is supposed to be on the field.
"Nelson is a good student and he's a leader by example; I'd like to see him be a little more vocal on the field because everyone obviously looks up to him," Mandl said. "I've brought it up to him a number of times and he jokes with me that he just doesn't like to talk.
"But off the field, he's a funny kid who talks all the time. Every single day Nelson hangs out in my office and every day he'll say something to shock me or fool me. Sometimes he doesn't shock me and sometimes he does. He's like that. He'll come up to me with a serious face and say something like so-and-so got hurt last night and can't play. He'll try to get a rise out of me for a reaction. And he'll do it because he has the poker face working."
June is fast approaching and it will be a life-changing time for Rodriguez. He's absorbed everything well.
The scouts with their stopwatches congregate behind the backstop and reporters and classmates inquirie as to what he may do, sign with a major league team or go to college. Presently, Rodriguez concerns himself with making the Trojans, who are 26-6 entering the week, a better team.
"Nelson is going to be successful with everything he does, he's that type of kid," Mandl said. "He wants to be good at whatever he does. And he wants to win. I see him playing ping-pong or video games with the other kids, and there is that edge to him. In a social setting, he can be relaxed and be a typical high school kid. Right now, we're taking everything into consideration with June coming up. I would assume Nelson goes in the first three rounds. He's the total package. He can hit, run, throw and call a good game."
There are pictures of Nelson Rodriguez Sr. that adorn his son's bedroom walls. Nelson carries pictures of him and his father in his wallet, covering various stages of his childhood. Always on a field. Always with a bat in his hands.
His dad will always be there, including one of the biggest days of his life.
"When or if I get drafted, I'll be thinking of my father."
