Prospect On The Fringe: Aderlin Rodriguez

For the purpose of our series of posts, we define the word fringe as any prospects, which we considered, that were absent from MMN’s own Top 40 Prospect lists. The purpose of the series is to identify prospects that are showing promise above what fans might expect and what their futures will hold within the Mets organization.

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Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B/1B

DOB: 11/18/1991

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

2013 Total Stats: .260/.295/.427, 14 Doubles, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 264 PA

2013 Review:

Aderlin Rodriguez started out the season with St. Lucie, but June 12th was the last game that he would play, which was due to a bone bruise and sprain in his right wrist that would end his season. Prior to his season ending injury, he did enjoy 17 multi-hit games on the season. In the off-season, he did participate in the Mets Instructional league and was also invited and participated in the Arizona Fall League. Even though he struggled by batting .194/.205/.222, with 14 hits in 72 at bats, he took a step in the right direction, after missing the second half of 2013.

Prospect Outlook:

Rodriguez lost half of a season in 2013, and will need to find his stroke again, so he can prove that he is fully healed. At the Mets Instructional league, he was driving the ball to the opposite field with power, looked comfortable at the plate, and he didn’t show any ill affects of the injury. At the Arizona Fall League, he might have been a bit over-matched, but I feel he was just pressing too much and was not relaxed; probably trying to hard to prove that he belonged.

2014 Prediction:

2014 will be a big test for Rodriguez; not for the organization, but for his own psyche. He is capable of hitting for power as he has shown with his 65 HR in five seasons within the minor league system. Because he missed the second half with Class A St. Lucie, the Mets most likely will start him there to see how he starts the season. If he shows that he has regained his power swing, he should be moving on to Double A Binghamton to continue with his development. If not for the injury, Rodriguez may have been a consideration for Top Prospect, but for now he will just need to work on his abilities and continue to grow. He has a lot of talent and it will all come back, so the key to 2014, is how he rebounds.