There R Giants #43: Anthony Rodriguez

Photo Credit: Anthony Rodriguez’ Instagram Feed

We’re into the There R Giants Top 50. Over the next few months, I’ll write a post on each of the fifty players in my rankings, leading us back to spring. So far, we’ve covered:

• Just Missed

• #50: Diego Velasquez

• #49: Trevor McDonald

• #48: Cole Waites

• #47: Simon Whiteman

• #46: Tristan Beck

• #45: Ghordy Santos

• #44: Esmerlin Vinicio

You don’t scout the stat line. It’s an axiomatic, foundational truth of prospect watching. Development isn’t linear; it often takes circuitous paths, leaps forward and frustrating setbacks. In 2019, Kansas City catching prospect M.J. Melendez put up a pathetic .163/.260/.311 line in High A in what was quite literally one of the worst performances in the entire minor leagues. A hop skip over the pandemic (and a lot of personal work) later and Melendez is one of the fastest rising prospects in the game after blitzing his way through Double and Triple A to the tune of a 1.011 OPS in 2021. Things happen fast is the point! All of the tinkering and resetting and improving and strengthening happening off the field doesn’t necessarily manifest on the field in any sort of logical, sensible progression.

And yet, it’s natural to want to see results on the field and do a little mental downgrading if they’re not there. Melendez, after all, fell off of most prognosticators Top 100 lists during 2019, before reappearing again this year. And so it is with my #43 prospect, infielder Anthony Rodriguez. In the long run, it’s quite probable that the gap that appears to separate him from his contemporary Aeverson Arteaga, is something of an illusion and we shouldn’t read too much into rookie league stats. I know this is true; you know this is true. And yet, somehow, with so many strong performances in 2021 pushing their way higher and higher on the list, it ends up looking like it’s somewhat true in my rankings. This is why rankings are a lie, I tells ya (please continue to read my complete set of rankings), a lie!

As I’ve noted with each of our past two Top 50 profiles, it’s a long, long journey from here:

… to here:

As it happens, those two images appeared on Rodriguez’ Instagram feed just one year apart from each other. But the truth is that the youngster has barely taken a first, small step on that long path. So far, the Giants are encouraged by what they’ve seen.

Footage Courtesy Prospects Worldwide You Tube channel