Cleveland Indians: 5 best prospects you don’t know (but should)
¡A celebrar!
— Tiburones de La Guaira (@tiburones_net) May 17, 2018
Jorma Rodríguez ha sido ascendido al Akron RubberDucks, Doble A de @Indians, luego de destrozar la Midwest League con promedio de .345 (142-49), un jonrón, 20 empujadas y 18 anotadas.#PaEncima pic.twitter.com/5QB0W4SCxD
Jorma Rodriguez, 2B, Hillcats
Jorma Rodriguez started the season at Class A Lake County, where he hit .345.
The promotion bell started ringing for Rodriguez, who has been with the Indians since 2012.
Before settling in at Class A (Advanced) Lynchburg, Rodriguez made a pit stop at Class AA Akron, where he hit .333 in seven games.
His recent breakout had to be unexpected by the Tribe. Rodriguez, a native of Venezuela is batting .331 this season. In his first five minor-league campaigns, he batted .240 with six home runs and 94 RBI through 282 career games.
He just eclipsed the Mendoza Line in 2017, batting .201 for the Captains.
Rodriguez was signed as a shortstop, but has played some terrific second base, committing one error in his first 55 chances.
While Rodriguez’s is hitting for a nice average, his on-base percentage sits at .362. The guy just don’t walk. He has eight free passes. He doesn’t strike out a ton either, though, fanning just 39 times in 139 at-bats.
I won’t pencil in Rodriguez as the Indians’ second baseman anytime soon because he has to show he can be consistent for a while year, instead of just two months.
He’s played in just six games for Lynchburg, and he’s hitting .200. It will be interesting to watch how whether he can continue to hit now that he’s playing at a higher level.
The Indians have had him in their organization for awhile. They want to see if this kid can develop into a bonafide prospect that can help the big-league club, or serve as trade-bait in the future.