Rich Rodriguez (baseball)
Richard Anthony Rodriguez, a graduate of Mountain View High School in the city of El Monte, California, is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from -.
Rodriguez was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign, opting to attend the University of Tennessee. He was drafted again by the New York Mets in the 9th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft, and signed.
Prior to the 1989 season, Rodriguez was traded by the Mets to the San Diego Padres for minor leaguers Bill Stevenson and Brad Pounders. He made his major league debut in 1990 with the Padres and played for them until June 24, 1993, when he and Gary Sheffield were traded to the Florida Marlins for Andres Berumen, Trevor Hoffman and Jose Martinez.
In 1994, he was released by the Marlins and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1996, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds, but was released during spring training. He signed with the Royals and spent the season in the minor leagues.
After the 1996 season, he signed with the San Francisco Giants, where he played for three seasons. He signed with the Mets for the 2000 season.
In 2001, he played for the Cleveland Indians. He signed with the Texas Rangers for the 2002 season, and the Anaheim Angels for the 2003 season.
Rich Rodriguez started "Elite Nine" baseball camps and clinics in 2012, a company who empowers and employs former Major League baseball players after their career has ended. Former players instruct at Elite Nine camps and provide private baseball lessons. Elite Nine Major League camps have travelled to Camarillo, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, Newbury Park, CA, San Anselmo, CA, and Lincoln, CA. Former MLB players who have instructed at Elite Nine Camps are Dmitri Young, Gregg Jefferies, Mike Lieberthal, Rene Gonzales and Aaron Miles. Rich Rodriguez was inducted into the El Monte Athletic Hall of Fame on November 10, 2012.
Rich resides between the Greater Palm Springs area and Austin, Texas with his wife, Malia Rivera, who has a marketing career in the veterinary industry. He continues to teach and consult students, travel teams and Little Leagues across California.
