Nellie Rodriguez can be classified in one word.
Big.
The 2012, 15th round draft pick of the Indians is listed at 6’2″, 250 pounds and not an ounce of that is exaggerated.
A man of that size should be able to generate some serious power, and Rodriguez does not disappoint. In his minor league career he has left the yard a total of 54 times in under four seasons.
As a matter of fact, upon getting the call up from High-A Lynchburg to AA Akron, Rodriguez made his impact felt immediately, hitting a grand slam in his very first at-bat with the RubberDucks.
Not all has been great thus far in Akron for the slugger, since his promotion he has only managed two hits in his first six games. However, both of them have been for extra bases, the grand slam along with an RBI double.
Although his performance in Akron hasn’t been the greatest, that does not mean that Rodriguez has not had a successful 2015 campaign thus far. While at High-A Lynchburg he was a force in the HillCats’ lineup.
While in Lynchburg, he had the opportunity to be teammates with current RubberDuck and top Tribe prospect Bradley Zimmer. Rodriguez was excited to re-join Zimmer in Akron.
“It has been pretty cool to meet with some of the guys I have been teammates with before. Zimmer was recently my teammate in Lynchburg and for him to be my teammate and for us to be in the same lineup is pretty cool.” said Rodriguez.
For the HillCats Nellie slashed .275/.375/.495 and also launched 17 home runs while driving in 84 runs. Among minor leaguers in the Indians system, Rodriguez is near the top of the ranks in several categories, including second in home runs with 18.
On his move from High-A to AA Akron Nellie said that “It has been more consistent and higher [velocity] than there was in the Carolina league. Here, they can throw their pitches in any count so it has just been more consistent.”
Time will tell, but hopefully Rodriguez will be able to adjust to more consistent pitching. As for his approach, he said that he would try to stay more relaxed and not be anxious at the plate.
Akron manager David Wallace had this to say about what Nellie needs to do in order to acclimate himself to AA ball, “He just needs to be himself. He’s pressing a little bit, I thought on the road he got outside of his approach and his zone. He just needs to be himself.”
Obviously, the move to Akron puts him one step closer to the big leagues.
When asked about what he needs to do to make it there he said, “I just need to keep doing what I have been doing and hopefully that day will come, I just need to keep on the grind and keep doing the same thing I have been doing.”
The right handed hitting first baseman could eventually be the right handed slugger that Tribe fans have been waiting for since Manny Ramirez bolted for the Bo Sox.
It just so happens that Ramirez and Rodriguez are both graduates of George Washington High School in New York, New York.
Until that day comes, Rodriguez has goals while in Akron. The RubberDucks are currently in the midst of fighting for an Eastern League Western Division playoff spot. Nellie wants to do all that he can to help Akron right now. “I want to try and finish the season strong, hopefully make a playoff push, and hopefully win a championship.”
Big goals, for a big guy.
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