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Rick Rodriguez (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Ricardo "Rick" Rodriguez is a professional baseball coach and former professional baseball pitcher
. He pitched in parts of four seasons in the major leagues between and . He is currently the bullpen coach for the Oakland Athletics
.
out of the University of California, Riverside
. He spent the next five seasons working his way up through their farm system, reaching the majors for the first time in 1986. He pitched parts of that season and for the A's, but was released in December 1987.
In January , Rodriguez was signed by the Cleveland Indians
, pitching one season in their organization with a brief stint in the majors. He became a free agent after the season, then spent a year in the Chicago White Sox
organization before spending his final season with the San Francisco Giants
in 1990.
in 1999, then in he was promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. He has been their pitching coach in every season since, with the exception of , when he spent the season back at Modesto as the team's field manager.
For the season, Rodriguez will serve as the bullpen coach for the Oakland Athletics.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched in parts of four seasons in the major leagues between and . He is currently the bullpen coach for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Playing career
Rodriguez was drafted by the Athletics in the 2nd round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft1981 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
out of the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
. He spent the next five seasons working his way up through their farm system, reaching the majors for the first time in 1986. He pitched parts of that season and for the A's, but was released in December 1987.
In January , Rodriguez was signed by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, pitching one season in their organization with a brief stint in the majors. He became a free agent after the season, then spent a year in the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
organization before spending his final season with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1990.
Coaching career
In , Rodriguez returned to the Oakland Athletics organization as a minor league pitching coach. He filled that position with the Modesto A'sModesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
in 1999, then in he was promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. He has been their pitching coach in every season since, with the exception of , when he spent the season back at Modesto as the team's field manager.
For the season, Rodriguez will serve as the bullpen coach for the Oakland Athletics.