Rangers Promote Guilder Rodriguez after 14 Minor League Seasons

Sep 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the ballpark during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

After 1095 games, 4095 plate appearances, 10 different farm clubs, and 14 seasons in the minor leagues, infielder Guilder Rodriguez has finally gotten the call. On Sunday, the Rangers promoted the 31 year old infielder, who has played six seasons in the Rangers organization, flipping between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock.   He hit .260/.340/.290 in 90 games for the two clubs in 2014.

According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, Rodriguez was promoted principally for his coaching acumen. Over six years in the Rangers organization, he has served as a mentor to a slew of top infield prospects, including Elvis Andrus, Jurrickson Profar, and more recently Rougned Odor and Luis Sardinas. With Sardinas and Odor currently logging time as the two youngest players in the major leagues, interim manager Tim Bogar felt they could benefit from the presence of a “big brother.”

Bogar also called Rodriguez a “player-coach,” and Gerry Fraley of the Dallas News reported  that Texas hopes he will assume the latter half of that moniker once his career comes to a close.

For Rodriguez, who was eighteen when he signed with the Brewers in 2001, this is the realization of a dream 14 years in the making, and an an unexpected one at that. Most players who celebrate their 30th birthday without a major league at bat never get one. The fact that Rodriguez will is a testament to his immense character and leadership.

In what has been a slosh bucket of a season for the Ranger, here’s a player fans can rally behind.