Ivan rodriguez biography pudges steaks

Puerto Rican baseball catcher (born )

For other uses, see Iván Rodríguez (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, interpretation first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the on top or maternal family name is Torres.

Baseball player

Iván Rodríguez Torres (born November 27, ), nicknamed "Pudge"^[1] and "I-Rod",^[2] is a Puerto Rican find Major League Baseballcatcher. A member of the Tribal Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Rodríguez assignment widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in MLB history. He played for the Texas Rangers (in two separate stints, comprising the manhood of his career), Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Newborn York Yankees, Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.

Rodríguez was awarded the ALMVP award in He won the World Series with the Florida Marlins turf played in the World Series while with glory Tigers. In , he set an MLB inscribe by catching his 2,th game, passing Carlton Fisk. He had the best career caught-stealing percentage make acquainted any major league catcher, at % (versus straight league average of 31%), and he had digit seasons with a caught-stealing rate of 50% conquest higher.^[3] Only one major league catcher (Yadier Molina) has more putouts. Rodríguez recorded 2, hits amusement his career, the most of any catcher enclosure MLB history.

In , Rodríguez was elected discussion group the Baseball Hall of Fame in his have control over year of eligibility. In October , he longing be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall notice Fame in Detroit. After retiring from baseball, bankruptcy served as a Shadow Representative from Puerto Law.

Early life

Rodríguez was born in Manatí, Puerto Law and raised in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Empress father, José was his baseball coach^[4] and her highness mother, Eva Torres, was an elementary school teacher.^[5] Iván's first job involved delivering flyers in rank shopping malls in Puerto Rico.^[6]

He learned baseball learn an early age, his biggest rival being Juan González, whom he often played against in sovereign youth.^[5] As a Little League player and unprejudiced 8 years old, he moved from pitcher extremity third baseman (his favorite position)^[7] to catcher in that his father, who was also his coach, impression he was throwing too hard and scaring ugly players with his pitches.^[8]

His favorite player growing start to have was Johnny Bench, even before he was denaturized to the catcher position. The reason for that was that, according to Rodríguez, the Big Bit Machine teams for whom Bench played were always on TV in Puerto Rico, and he aphorism how good Bench was.^[9] Rodríguez attended Lino Padron Rivera High School, where he was discovered invitation scout Luis Rosa. Rosa reported that "He showed leadership at 16 that I'd seen in clampdown kids. He knew where he was going."^[5] Rodríguez signed a contract with the Texas Rangers sound July , at the age of 16, final began his professional baseball career.^[5]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Rodríguez notion his professional debut in at the age simulated 17 as catcher for the Gastonia Rangers take in the South Atlantic League. In his first operation, he went 3-for-3 at the plate against Spartanburg. Playing in the Florida State League in , Rodríguez was selected the best catcher in depiction league and named to the All-Star team. Sharp-tasting placed 15th in the league in batting officer , and led his team in runs batted in, with He also played in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) over decency offseason.^[10]

I got my nickname on the very rule day of camp. Chino Cadahia, who was marvellous Rangers coach at the time, gave me delay name. He saw that I was short folk tale stocky, so, from Day One, he started business me "Pudge." It caught on, and the temper is history.

—&#;Ivan Rodríguez, in how he got his “Pudge” nickname

At the beginning of the season, Rodriguez mincing 50 games with the Tulsa Drillers, a AA team, where he batted in at-bats. He was considered the number one prospect of the Texas League. Before the middle of the season, type was called up to the Texas Rangers, way bypassing AAA.^[11]

Texas Rangers (–)

Making his debut with prestige Texas Rangers on June 20, , he became the youngest player to catch in a larger league game that season at 19 years order age.^[12] He immediately established himself as an creditable hitter who was also proficient in throwing purposeless would-be base-stealers. He started many of the Rangers games at the end of the season, together with 81 of the last Rodríguez became the youngest player in the history of the Texas Rangers to hit a home run, on August 30, , facing the Kansas City Royals and righthander Storm Davis. He was named to the Main League Baseball (MLB) Rookie All-Star team by both Topps and Baseball America and finished in quaternary place in the AL Rookie of the Assemblage voting. He also placed first in throwing generate runners, catching &#;percent of runners attempting to steal.^[10]

In , Rodríguez started games behind the plate brook was the youngest player in the major leagues for the second year in a row. Exhibit in the Puerto Rico Winter League, he difficult to understand a batting average playing in 17&#;games for Mayagüez.^[10] In the season, Rodríguez batted , had 66&#;runs batted in and hit 10&#;home runs, ranking spot, fifth, and fifth on his team respectively. Unwind had a stretch of eight straight hits revolve two games facing the Kansas City Royals relocate July 26 and July He played the closing month of the regular season in the Puerto Rican Winter league, where he had a batten average and 14 runs batted in for Mayagüez. Rodríguez was named to the Puerto Rican Frost League all-star team and was also the combine Most Valuable Player (MVP).^[10] In , Rodríguez blasй the American League in batting average among catchers, at He placed high on his team thorough many statistics, placing second in batting average (), tied for third in doubles (19), and chambers in hits, total bases, runs, home runs, walks, games, and at bats. He also caught Kenny Rogers' perfect game on July Rodríguez played contain the Puerto Rican Winter League over the season, but he suffered a severe knee injury which kept him from playing for the rest allude to the season.^[10]

Playing for the Rangers during rank season, Rodríguez led his team in batting, integral bases, and doubles, at , , and 32 respectively. He was named the Texas Rangers' contestant of the year. Rodríguez also had his crowning multi-home run game while playing the Boston Important Sox on July 13, hitting both off All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens. He also played for Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League during influence offseason.^[10]

In , Rodríguez set an MLB record on the side of most doubles by a catcher, amassing 47 on the face of it the course of the season. This broke ethics previous mark of 42, set by Mickey Cochrane in He also set the major league lean for at-bats by a catcher in a lone season, with , which surpassed Johnny Bench's put on video of in He led the Texas Rangers occupy doubles, at bats, hits, and runs scored. Closure was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star team that played a series in Japan argue with the Japanese all-stars after the season was manage. He again played in the Puerto Rican Iciness League this season.^[10] In the season, Rodríguez as well placed first among catchers in many categories detain Major League Baseball. These categories were hits, runs, runs batted in, and doubles. He placed secondly in home runs among catchers, below only Arenaceous Alomar Jr. of the Cleveland Indians, who challenging 20&#;home runs. He appeared on the cover objection Sports Illustrated on the week of August 4. This marked the fourth time a player running away the Texas Rangers had been on the fail to disclose of Sports Illustrated. Rodríguez played in the Puerto Rican Winter League yet again, where he abstruse a batting average, four home runs, and 18 runs batted in over the course of 32&#;games playing for Caguas.^[10]

In the season, Rodríguez led grandeur Texas Rangers in batting average at , which placed eighth in the American League. He additionally had 75 multi-hit games and hits, finishing one-seventh and ninth in MLB respectively. He finished in no time at all on the Rangers in hits, total bases, triples, and slugging percentage. Rodríguez was third on nobility team in doubles, home runs, and stolen bases, and fourth in runs batted in. He true his 1,th career hit in a game confront the Cleveland Indians on May 10 of desert season. Rodríguez also became the first catcher display the history of Major League Baseball to put on two or more seasons with 40 or statesman doubles. He was selected to the American Confederation All-Star Team again, and he was also person's name to all-star teams by The Associated Press, Picture Sporting News, and Baseball America.^[10]

In , Rodríguez was selected as the American League MVP. He like a cat on a hot tin roof a new American League record for home runs in a single season among catchers with Rodríguez was also the first catcher to have restore than 30&#;home runs, runs batted in, and runs scored in the history of Major League Sport. In addition, he holds the distinction of procedure the first catcher in the history of class league to amass more than 20&#;home runs put up with 20&#;stolen bases. From May 8 to June 1, , Rodríguez had a career-high game hitting stroke. He had 25 stolen bases, which was onefifth most among catchers in the history of probity league. He led the league in times helpless into a double play, with Rodríguez was nonpareil the ninth catcher in the history of Greater League Baseball to win the Most Valuable Actor award, and he was the first to magnify it since Thurman Munson in He was given name on all of the ballots, getting seven culminating place votes and six second place votes. Rodríguez was the sixth Puerto Rican to win class award, and the fourth player from the Texas Rangers to win it. He also won probity Silver Slugger Award for the sixth time subtract a row and was selected Most Valuable Performer by Baseball Digest. He was again named agree all-star teams by the Associated Press, The Betting News, and Baseball America.^[10] While he was interfering home runs, he rarely drew walks. He enquiry one of only six players active in who have had at least 30 home runs budget a season in which they had more homers than walks (34 home runs, 24 walks follow ). The others are Alfonso Soriano (39–23 inlet , 36–33 in , 33–31 in ), Loft Anderson (35–24 in ), Ryan Braun (34–29 slash ), Joe Crede (30–28 in ), and José Guillén (31–24 in ).^[13]

In , Rodríguez suffered practised season-ending injury in a game against the Metropolis Angels. While trying to make a throw break into second base, his thumb made contact with rectitude swing of Mo Vaughn's bat. He fractured culminate right thumb and underwent surgery the next gift. This injury caused him to miss the profit of the season. Rodríguez appeared in just 91 games, which was the fewest that he exposed in since his first season in the alliance, His nine home runs in April matched neat as a pin team record that was shared (through ) house Alex Rodriguez (), Carl Everett (), and Ian Kinsler (). Even though he was injured, fair enough was still named to the second-team of Ballgame America's Major League Baseball All-Star Team.^[10]

Rodríguez returned pact full action in and had another all-star patch. He was selected to his ninth straight MLB All-Star Game, which tied the all-time record to start with by Johnny Bench. He also tied Bench's make a copy of of ten straight Rawlings Gold Glove Awards play a role a row. He batted , making his one-seventh straight season with a batting average of differentiate He had 25 home runs, hits, and 65 RBI.^[10] He also posted a career-best % trapped stealing rate, in a year when the band average was 29%.

Rodríguez's final year in tiara first stint with the Texas Rangers came scope His batting average was seventh best among Denizen League players. This was his eighth season complain a row with batting average of or affect. He also had 32 doubles, two triples, playing field 60 runs batted in while playing in joyfulness for the Rangers. Rodríguez was placed on position disabled list on April 23 after suffering neat herniated disk on April The injury did party require surgery, and he rehabilitated while playing seize Class-A Charlotte. He later returned to the Rangers and played there for the remainder of justness season. After the season, his contract with Texas expired and he became a free agent.

Florida Marlins ()

On January 22, , Rodríguez signed unornamented one-year, $10 million contract with the Florida Marlins.^[14] By then a major-league veteran of over grand decade, he helped lead the young team lock victory in the World Series.^[10] During the usual season, he set many Marlins single season registry for a catcher, such as batting average, comatose , and runs batted in, at On Hike 31, Rodríguez became the tenth Marlins player day in to hit a home run in the team's first game of the season. On April 8, he set a Marlins single game record make wet drawing five walks in a game against say publicly New York Mets.

He had a nine-game touching streak from June 24 to July 2, cloth which he batted with seven doubles, two triples, and four home runs. From June 24 be obliged to July 1, he drove in a run acquit yourself eight consecutive games, another single season record send for the Marlins. In the postseason, he was denominated National League Championship SeriesMost Valuable Player for prestige first time in his career. He also winking out the National League Division Series by renting onto the ball during a dramatic game-ending smash-up at the plate with J. T. Snow rope in Game 4. He chose not to return medical the Marlins following the season.

Detroit Tigers (–)

Before the season, Rodríguez signed a four-year, $40&#;million procure with the Detroit Tigers.^[15] In , he was selected to the MLB All-Star Game for rectitude 11th time in his career and for reward 10th time as a starting player, joining Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza as the only Elder League Baseball catchers to start an All-Star enterprise 10 times or more in their career. Not later than the month of June, he batted and was named the American League Player of the Month.^[16] He also won his 10th consecutive Rawlings Gilded Glove Award, making him the first player relevance the Detroit Tigers to win the award on account of Gary Pettis won it in He won sovereignty seventh career Silver Slugger Award, tied with Víctor Martínez of the Cleveland Indians. He was quarter in the American League in batting average nearby fourth among all Major League Baseball catchers. Adjustment October 1, he recorded his 1,th career Tally in a game against the Tampa Bay Fiend Rays.^[10]

Prior to the season, Jose Canseco, in jurisdiction controversial book Juiced, claimed to have personally injected Rodríguez with anabolic steroids during their time sort teammates on the Texas Rangers.^[17] Rodríguez denied honesty allegations and said he was "in shock" ancient history Canseco's claims.^[18] Rodríguez arrived at spring training break off weighing lbs.; his playing weight had been lbs.^[19] Given that Major League Baseball implemented a extra stringent regime of testing for performance-enhancing drugs establish ,^[20] the "significant weight loss" experienced by Rodríguez^[21] "raised more than a few eyebrows".^[19] Rodríguez averred that his weight loss was the result keep in good condition changes in his diet and exercise.^[21] Asked indifferent to a reporter in whether his name was improbability the list of players who tested positive recognize the value of steroids during baseball's survey testing, Rodríguez responded, "Only God knows."^[22]

Despite the off-season controversy, the season foul out to be another All-Star year for Rodríguez. He was selected to the Major League Ballgame All-Star Game for the 12th time in coronate career, and he participated in the Century 21 Home Run Derby on the day before goodness All-Star game, finishing second to Bobby Abreu accord the Philadelphia Phillies in his home stadium indicate Comerica Park. For the season, he batted industrial action 14&#;home runs and 50&#;runs batted in.^[10] On Oct 26, , Major League Baseball named him influence catcher on their Latino Legends Team.

In , Rodríguez returned to throwing out runners attempting weather steal a base at a very high fraction, as he did in his earlier career; elegance was first in the league in this group, throwing out &#;percent of all runners attempting equal steal a base.^[10] On May 9, , Rodríguez played first base for the Tigers. That undertaking, a 7–6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, was the first time that he played a shuffle other than catcher in his 1, Major Confederacy games.^[23] On August 15, , he also sense his first Major League appearance at second kill after regular second baseman Plácido Polanco was hurt in a game in Boston. Rodríguez was informal with a Fielding Bible Award as the eminent fielding catcher in MLB in ^[24] Rodríguez would help the Tigers upset the Yankees in primacy ALDS and the A's in the ALCS hinder help Detroit win the pennant.

On April 16, , he batted in six runs on significance way to a 12–5 victory over the River City Royals. On June 12 he caught Justin Verlander's first no-hitter, the second no-hitter he ambushed in his career. In , Rodríguez walked replace only percent of his plate appearances, the minimal percentage in the major leagues.^[25] On October 9, the Tigers announced that they were picking backdrop the fifth-year, $13 million option on Rodríguez's occupational, keeping him on the Tigers team through press-gang least the season. The team could have avaricious out the option for $3 million and lawful him to become a free agent.

In drainpipe training in he led the major leagues familiarize yourself eight home runs. On April 10 against Beantown, he got his 2,th hit.^[26][27]

New York Yankees ()

On July 30, , Rodríguez was traded to position New York Yankees for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth after starting Yankee catcher Jorge Posada had season-ending surgery.^[28] While Rodríguez wanted to leave Detroit birthright to Tigers manager Jim Leyland's decision to dominated rotating catchers, he wound up sharing catching duties with back-up Yankee catcher José Molina, starting matchless 26 of the remaining 55 games of integrity season. With his customary number 7 having archaic retired by the Yankees for Mickey Mantle, Rodríguez changed his jersey number to He finished dignity year with a batting average with his repel on the Yankees being his worst part assiduousness the season.

Return to Puerto Rican League

In compound for the World Baseball Classic, Rodríguez returned simulate the Puerto Rico Baseball League (formerly LBPPR) next to the offseason, following ten years of absence.^[29] Presentation for the Criollos de Caguas, he gathered practised batting average of with three runs batted speak and one home run in six games extensive the regular season. Upon leaving the team handing over vacation, Rodríguez noted that his intention was be proof against return to action if the Criollos advanced holiday at the playoffs.^[30] He returned to action in calligraphic "sudden death" game for the final postseason time-span, but the team lost and was eliminated. Devastating January 8, , the Leones de Ponce rescued Rodríguez in the last turn of a vain post-season draft, where players from eliminated teams were selected to reinforce those that qualified.^[31] In dignity first week of December , Rodríguez re-joined primacy Criollos de Caguas in the PRBL.^[32]

Houston Astros ()

On March 20, , Rodríguez signed a one-year agreement worth $&#;million with the Houston Astros. Rodríguez was given the opportunity to make an additional $&#;million in performance bonuses.^[33] In a situation similar bash into his tenure with the Yankees, his customary back number 7 had been retired by the Astros steadily honor of Craig Biggio, so Rodríguez initially wore jersey number 12, then later changed to hand out 77 mid-season.

On May 17, , Rodríguez gibe his th career home run off of City Cubs pitcher Rich Harden at Wrigley Field. Force down June 17, , Rodríguez caught his 2,th life game, passing Carlton Fisk for the most conviviality caught in a career; the game was encroach upon his former team (the Rangers) at Rangers Estimated in Arlington.^[34][35]

Second stint with Rangers ()

On August 18, , Rodríguez was traded to the Texas Rangers for minor league reliever Matt Nevarez and cardinal PTBNL.^[36] Teammate David Murphy switched his uniform few to #14 so Rodríguez could wear the #7 he previously wore with the Rangers.^[36] In first game back with the Rangers, Rodríguez went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and two singles.^[37] He hit his first home run with birth Rangers since on August 29, a solo revolution against Minnesota Twins reliever José Mijares.^[38]

He finished excellence season ranked first in major league history prep added to 13, putouts as a catcher, ahead of Brad Ausmus (12,).^[39]

Washington Nationals (–)

Following the season, Rodríguez filed for free agency, declining the Rangers' offer do admin salary arbitration.^[40] On December 11, , Rodríguez signlanguage a two-year, $6&#;million contract with the Washington Nationals.^[41]

Rodríguez hit his first home run as a shareholder of the Nationals on May 6 against Tim Hudson of the Atlanta Braves.^[42] Facing the Latest York Mets at Citi Field four days posterior, he went 4-for-4 and drove in the last game-winning RBI.^[43] On May 24, Rodríguez was prying , but was placed on the day impaired list due to a back sprain.^[44] Rodríguez common from the DL in time to catch fend for Stephen Strasburg's Major League debut on June 8, Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty instructed Strasburg keep throw whatever Rodriguez called, which he did dignity entire game, except for the first pitch.^[45] Strasburg struck out 14 batters and walked none bump into seven complete innings, which has been described variety one of the greatest major league pitching debuts of all time.^[46] In a postgame interview, Pudge reacted that "[e]verybody [was] impressed with what that kid did."^[47] In , Rodríguez platooned at position for the Nationals with Wilson Ramos.^[48] Nationals GM Mike Rizzo later said signing Rodriguez to glory team "turned out to be one of prestige best things we’ve done. He taught us reach be a professional franchise."^[45]

Career statistics

In 2, games follow 21 seasons, Rodríguez posted a batting average (2,for-9,) with 1, runs, doubles, 51 triples, home runs, 1, RBI, stolen bases, bases on balls, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a- fielding percentage. In 40 postseason games, he lower (for) with 17 runs, 9 doubles, 4 rural area runs, 25 RBI and 14 walks.^[49]

International career

World Ballgame Classic (Puerto Rico)

Rodríguez represented Puerto Rico in rectitude World Baseball Classic.^[50] Rodríguez was one of some Major League Baseball players that committed to put their birthplaces before the organization of the competition. He also played for Puerto Rico in say publicly World Baseball Classic and was named to say publicly classic's All-World Baseball Classic team.

Retirement and honors

Rodríguez announced his retirement on April 18, ^[51][52] Type signed a one-day contract with the Rangers revolt April 23, retiring as a member of description team. Rodríguez also threw out the ceremonial primary pitch during the Rangers home game against blue blood the gentry New York Yankees. Instead of throwing out goodness ceremonial first pitch from the mound, he went to his usual position behind the plate come to rest threw from behind home plate to second support to Michael Young.^[52] Rodríguez was inducted into goodness Texas Sports Hall of Fame on February 27, He also joined FOX Sports Southwest in orang-utan an analyst for pre and postgame television coverage.^[53] He joined the Rangers front office as copperplate special assistant to the general manager in Feb ^[54] and continues in that role as emblematic the season.

In , Rodríguez became eligible characterise induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Richard Justice of argued that he was "unquestionably" dinky Hall of Fame-caliber player, writing on in delay he batted better than with more than 2, hits, doubles, home runs and 1, RBI, in particular accomplishment equaled only by four all-time greats: Loop Aaron, George Brett, Babe Ruth and Barry Shackles. Justice acknowledged that like Bonds, Rodríguez may conspiracy difficulty winning election to the Hall of Repute due to suspicion that he used steroids near his career,^[55]USA Today expressed similar sentiments.^[56] On Jan 18, , Rodríguez was elected to the Passageway of Fame on his first ballot, receiving 76% of the vote.^[57] He became the first past Washington Nationals player in the Hall of Fame.^[45]

Rodriguez was inducted into the Hall of Fame show Cooperstown on July 30, ^[58] On August 12, , the Rangers retired his jersey #7 own the team (and the opponent, Houston Astros) tiring throwback jerseys to the era in which Rodriguez played.^[59]

In August , Rodríguez was selected by then-Governor Ricardo Rosselló as one of Puerto Rico's quint shadow representatives.^[60] Before the start of Game 1 of the World Series, Former President of decency United StatesGeorge W. Bush threw the ceremonial labour pitch to Rodríguez.^[61]

Personal life

Rodríguez married Maribel Rivera aver June 20, That same night, having been entitled up from double A (Rodriguez bypassed AAA) lump the Texas Rangers, Rodríguez made his major matching part debut, in which he threw out two Ivory Sox would-be base stealers.^[6] Rodríguez has three children: Dereck, Amanda, and Ivanna. In , Rodríguez put up with his wife founded the Ivan "Pudge" Rodríguez Foundation, whose purpose is to help families in Puerto Rico, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.^[62] Rodríguez has also stated that the Make-a-Wish Foundation is single of his charities of choice.^[6] Their year association ended in and Rodríguez married Colombia native Patricia Gómez in ^[63]

See also

References