Sean Rodriguez

Sean John Rodriguez (born April 26, 1985) is an American former professional baseball utility player who currently serves as a player development instructor for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Phillies, and Miami Marlins. Rodriguez was drafted out of high school by the Angels in the third round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2008. While he played more second base than any other position, Rodriguez played at every position in his MLB career except for catcher.

Early life Rodriguez was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents. His father, Johnny, was largely responsible for teaching his son the game of baseball. By the age of four, Sean was using a bat, weighted with a baseball doughnut. At age eight, he could throw baseballs from the outfield to home plate. Johnny also coached Sean in Little League. Though Sean wanted to play shortstop at the time, his father placed him in the outfield. His father spent the 2014 season as Manager of the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League, and has coached, managed, and scouted in eight organizations. Sean's older brother, Robert, was a catcher in the Nationals’ minor league system for five years (2002–06), and is the head coach/instructor at Total Baseball Academy in Clearwater, Florida.

Rodriguez attended Miami Coral Park High School where he played center field for the baseball team. He transferred after his sophomore year to G. Holmes Braddock High School, where Rodriguez played shortstop for the baseball team. Rodriguez, then primarily a shortstop, began his professional career for the Rookie League Tempe Angels in 2003. In 54 games, he batted .269/.332/.380 with 2 home runs, 25 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 216 at bats.

Rodriguez split the 2004 season between the Rookie League Provo Angels, for whom he batted .338/.486/.569 and scored 64 runs (tied for 2nd in the Pioneer League) with four triples (tied for 4th) and 55 RBIs and 51 walks (both tied for 5th), and the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels. In a combined 421 at bats in 121 games, he batted .297/.420/.487 with 14 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. Rodriguez was named a Pioneer League postseason All-Star, and was the Pioneer League MVP.

Rodriguez spent the entire 2005 season playing for the Kernels. He played in 124 games with 448 at bats and batted .250/.371/.422 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases. On June 18 Rodriguez was the California League Player of the Week. He led the Travelers with his 136 games played, and came in second with 129 hits.

Rodriguez began the 2008 season for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. On April 18, he was recalled from the Bees and made his major league debut against the Seattle Mariners the next day. He went 1–4 in his debut. On July 14 he was the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week. For the 2008 season in the major leagues, he batted .204/.276/.317 with three home runs, 10 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 167 at bats. For the 2009 season in the major leagues, he had five hits including two home runs in 25 at bats. Fellow minor leaguers Matt Sweeney and Alexander Torres also came to the Rays in the trade. Rodriguez was assigned to the AAA Durham Bulls, where he finished out the season.

During the 2011 season, Rodriguez played 131 games. He batted 223/.323/.357, with 8 home runs, 36 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and 18 HBP (2nd in the American League) in 373 at bats. On August 21, Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A after the team activated Luke Scott from the disabled list. For the 2012 season, in the major leagues he batted .213/.281/.326 with 6 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases in 301 at bats. He averaged one RBI for every 5.78 at bats, the 10th-best ratio in the American League among players with at least 250 plate appearances.

Pittsburgh Pirates On December 1, 2014, Rodriguez was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named later. Pirates minor league right handed pitcher Buddy Borden was the player to be named later, as he was sent to the Tampa Bay Rays to complete the trade for Rodriguez. In 2015 he batted .246/.281/.362 with 4 home runs and 17 RBIs in 224 at bats.

On December 17, 2015, Rodriguez re-signed with the Pirates on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. For the week of September 12–18, 2016, Rodriguez was named the National League's Co-Player of the Week, after Rodriguez batted .414 (12-for-29), with six runs scored, five home runs, 12 RBIs, and a 1.386 OPS. In 2016 he batted .270/.349/.510 with career-high 18 home runs and 56 RBIs in 300 at bats. The expectation was that he would receive more playing time than he would have had with the Pirates.

On the afternoon of January 28, 2017, Rodriguez was injured near his Miami home when his Chevy Suburban SUV was struck in a side collision by a stolen police cruiser. In the collision Rodriguez's rotator cuff on his non-throwing left arm was severely torn, his labrum was damaged, and his biceps tendon was dislocated.

Rodriguez had surgery on his three injuries on February 14. He missed five months in rehab, and was not activated until mid-season. After Rodriguez returned to the team and had 37 at bats, the Braves traded him. In his first game back with the Pirates, he hit a walk-off home run. Between the two major league teams, in 2017 he batted .167/.276/.295 with five home runs and eight RBI in 132 at-bats. He was invited to spring training with the Phillies. On April 24, Rodriguez was promoted to the major leagues after Jean Segura and Scott Kingery were injured. With the Phillies, he batted .223/.348/.375 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 112 at-bats.

Miami Marlins On February 4, 2020, Rodriguez signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins. On July 24, Rodriguez was selected to the 40-man roster, but hit the injured list shortly thereafter due to an unspecified medical reason. On September 20, Rodriguez was designated for assignment by the Marlins after recording 2 hits in 13 at-bats across four games.

Post-playing career

On March 11, 2022, Rodriguez was hired as a player development instructor for the Philadelphia Phillies, effectively ending his playing career.

Personal life Rodriguez and his wife, Giselle, have four children. Rodriguez is heavily involved in autism awareness, as his son Sean Jr. is highly-functioning with autism. Rodriguez is a Christian.