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Baltimore Orioles Player Profile: Aderlin Rodriguez

By Adrian Andrew

May 6, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) fields a ground ball on the final play of the game to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) fields a ground ball on the final play of the game to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aderlin Rodriguez is currently playing for the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate in Bowie. Could he eventually find a spot on the Orioles roster?

Aderlin Rodriguez currently is a third baseman who plays for the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate, the Bowie Baysox.

Rodriguez played his first ever game for the New York Mets minor league team. He then participated in spring training in 2011, 2012, 2013, and finally in 2015 before being released by the club.

He was then signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2015, but his time with them was very short as he elected free agency later that year.

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He was then signed by his current team, the Baltimore Orioles, in 2016. He participated in spring training this year and was ultimately demoted, but is showing promising skills.

Aderlin Rodriguez Recent Success For The Bowie Baysox

Ever since Rodriguez got signed by the Orioles, he’s been tearing it up. Last year with the Fredrick Keys, Rodriguez hit .304, with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs.

But the most impressive thing about all of this is how he is performing this year. Rodriguez got promoted to Double-A this year and is tied for the most home runs in the league with five.

He leads the team with 22 RBIs and is sixth in avearge, batting .300 among hitters with 50 or more at-bats. He is doing well this year and is only 25 years old, so he has some potential.

How Aderlin Rodriguez Could Fit in With The Orioles Roster

If you’re an Orioles fan you know that J.J. Hardy is reaching the end of his career. Even he himself will admit it as he said to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday:

"I’ll tell you, the last probably couple of weeks has probably been one of the toughest stretches, defensively, offensively, for me in probably my whole career. I’ve got no excuse for it. I’m doing the same stuff I’ve done the last 12 years — preparing, working hard—and it’s just one of those stretches."

Most of us anticipate that this is Hardy’s last year, as he has an option going into 2018. This would most likely cause Manny Machado to move to shortstop.

This is where Aderlin Rodriguez fits in. Since the O’s will possibly be in need of either a shortstop or third baseman in 2018, who can step up and take on this role?

I personally think Rodriguez is a perfect fit especially if he continues to excel at all levels of the minors. He has the classic Oriole pop in the bat and is a mediocre fielder.

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The only negative is he really doesn’t have any speed, as he has contributed zero stolen bases this year and a pitiful three stolen bases last year while also equally, getting caught stealing three times.

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