By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Carlos Rodriguez, a 2010 Lopez graduate, is a product of his family’s unwavering support and the valuable lessons taught by the game of baseball.
He says those two things are the biggest reasons for his success in life.
During the coming week at the NCAA Division II College World Series, Rodriguez, who just received his college degree, will complete his baseball career playing for Henderson State University of Arkadelphia, Ark.
Rodriguez was a standout third baseman/pitcher on four straight District 32-5A championship teams at Lopez, earning All-Valley and all-district honors. He’s now the senior starting shortstop for Henderson State as the Reddies make their inaugural appearance at the eight-team, double-elimination College World Series at Cary, N.C. Henderson State (31-19) begins tournament play at 2 p.m. today against Angelo State (41-16).
When asked why he has been able to do so well athletically and academically in college while far from home, Rodriguez said, “My family’s support has always been there for me, and the game of baseball (has taught me a lot). It’s a game of failure, really. It’s made for you to fail. Not every bounce goes your way, and I’ve learned to persevere. At the end, it’s not how you started, it’s how you finish.”
After high school, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Rodriguez signed to play at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. He redshirted as a freshman and wound up transferring to Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, where he played one season before signing with Henderson State. He’s been with the Reddies three years and moved from third base to shortstop this season to play “a position I’ve never played before.” The move was prompted when Henderson State brought in a highly prized recruit to play third.
After coming off the bench earlier in the season, Rodriguez has started 28 games and played in 33. He boasts a .926 fielding percentage and has helped turn 17 double plays, third most on the team, while batting .263 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.
Rodriguez was coached at Lopez by Beto Leal and Victor Martinez, the Lobos’ current coach. They’re both pretty excited about seeing their former standout third baseman playing in such a pinnacle event of college baseball, and they look forward to watching the games online.
“When Carlos was a senior, he was the MVP of District 32-5A, so you can just imagine how much we think of him,” Leal said. “It’s awesome to see him get this chance to play in the College World Series. He’s worked his butt off to get where he’s at, and if there’s anyone who deserves to play in a College World Series, it’s that guy. We’re ecstatic and very happy for him.”
Rodriguez said it took a “leap of faith” to leave the comfortable environment he was accustomed to in Brownsville to go to NTCC and then Henderson State, but he added it has been a worthwhile experience.
“It’s great to play college baseball,” he said. “I’ve made lots of friends. My teammates are my new brothers. You see the differences of what it’s like (to live outside the Valley).”
Most importantly, Rodriguez received his undergraduate degree earlier this month in general studies with concentrations in biology and athletic training. He was one of just a few baseball players to maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. He now plans to pursue a master’s degree in exercise physiology.
Rodriguez said he is motivated by others in his family who already have earned their master’s degrees.
Carlos has two older brothers, Eric and Albert, who graduated from Lopez in 2000 and 2005, respectively. They have a younger sister, Jocelyn, a 2014 graduate of IDEA Frontier. Their parents are Jose and Esmeralda Rodriguez. It’s a close-knit family of modest means from Southmost that places a high value on education, Eric said.
“We are who we are because of my parents, honestly,” said Eric, a teacher and coach at Stillman Middle School, while Albert teaches at Brownsville Veterans Memorial. “We’re a very close family, and it was tough to see Carlos go so far away, but we got through it.
“All of us have had our share of successes, and we strive to be better members of society,” Eric added. “Education has allowed that to happen for us. Our parents could never help us with our homework or college registration, but that didn’t stop us or give us a reason to make excuses (for not achieving).”
Through baseball and his academic accomplishments, Carlos, who started swinging a bat at age 3 and played for South Brownsville Little League, is realizing his family’s wishes, particularly those of his parents.
“I think I’ve definitely made them proud,” he said. “(And for me) playing the game I love (in college) is the best thing.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess