Full Name : Ivan Rodríguez Torres
Born : November 30, 1971
Hometown : Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Height : 5' 9
Weight : 205 lbs
Bats : Right
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : June 20, 1991 for the Texas Rangers
Family : wife, Maribel; children, Amanda Christine, Ivanna Sofia
Primary Position : Catcher
Inarguably one of the game's best catchers, Ivan Rodriguez has no doubt been recognized for his superb defensive skills behind the plate in addition to the phenomenal offensive numbers that he has put up throughout his career. Known by many as “Pudge” due to his short, stocky physique, Rodriguez was born on November 30, 1971 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. His major league career began as a Texas Ranger, and it was here that he established himself as possibly one of the best defensive catcher's in the league, throwing out handfuls of baseburners and serving as a “brick wall” behind the plate. Through May of 2006, Rodriguez threw out an astounding 48% of base stealers that tried to run on him, a figure considered extraordinary among major league catchers. This is just one statistic that goes to show how fearful runners became when thinking about swiping that extra bag.
It didn't take Rangers fans a long time to realize how much of an impact Rodriguez would have. During his first eight seasons with the organization, he appeared in at least 120 games every year with the exception of the 1994 season and his rookie year (1991). He became a regular .300 hitter who could drive the ball and produce a substantial number of RBI's, especially for a catcher. In the 1999 season he won the American League Most Valuable Player Award, belting 35 home runs, driving in 113 RBI's, and finishing with an exceptional .332 batting average. Many compared him to the famous Carlton Fisk, who was also referred to by many as "Pudge." Unfortunately, a range of injuries limited Rodriguez's playing time from 2000-2002. During that tenure he appeared in only 310 games, and it was clearly evident that his ongoing health issues were a growing concern.
The Rangers decided not to gamble on Rodriguez and let him go after the 2002 season. He signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins who would eventually shock the entire baseball world and go on to win the World Series that following year. His term with the Marlins was short-lived, however, as he was picked up by the Detroit Tigers after just one year of service for Florida. While with Detroit, he continued to prove why he was one of the best at what he did, putting up respectable offensive numbers and limiting runners to very few stolen bases. There was even an instance during the 2006 reason where Rodriguez was forced to play first base, marking the first time in his major league career that he played a position other than catcher. After making 13 all-star appearances, winning 12 Gold Glove Awards as a catcher, and being honored as a 7-time Silver Slugger, there is no question that this athlete will go down in the books as one of the best behind the plate.
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