Cincinnati Reds prospect Alfredo Rodriguez had a big day in the Dominican Summer League on Friday. The Cuban shortstop played in two games for the DSL Reds yesterday. In the first game he helped the Reds to a shutout win, going 3-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
In the first trip to the plate he singled to left field on a line drive. He would end the second inning with a strikeout. In the top of the fifth inning he lined a double to right field with a runner on base. He capped the game with another double, this one on a line drive to left field.
The second game of the day was a make up from a previously postponed game against the Padres. Rodriguez would walk in his first trip to the plate and steal second base. He’d later score on a triple in the inning. The second trip to the plate resulted in a line drive double play to the third baseman. In the sixth inning the shortstop would make his final plate appearance of the day and he’d line a single into center field. He would score on a wild pitch later in the inning.
For the day he would wind up going 4-6 with a walk, steal, three runs scored and a strikeout. The 22-year-old is certainly older than most of the competition he’s facing in the Dominican Summer League where the average age of a position player is just 18.2-years-old and the average pitcher is just 19.1-years-old, but he’s gotten out to a strong start to his professional career. He’s played in just four games, but he’s hitting .462/.533/.615 with two walks and two strikeouts to go along with two stolen bases in as many attempts.
The Reds are awaiting for a work visa to come through for Alfredo Rodriguez. Once that gets approved I’d imagine that we will see him join a team in the United States. What level he initially lands at is unknown, but with the talk that the team would like to send him to the Arizona Fall League, you would think that it would at least be one of the full-season teams.