Former Major League pitcher Frank Rodriguez returns for his fifth season on the Maritime baseball coaching staff for the 2019 season.
The 2018 season was once again a successful year for the Privateers, as the team recorded 23 wins on the year, including 11 wins in Skyline Conference play earning the fifth seed in the Skyline Conference Championship. Maritime's pitching staff set several program records on the year, including team earned run average (3.70), lowest opponent batting average (.270), and most saves (7). Following the season, the team had seven individuals earn Skyline All-Conference accolades, including three on the first team.
In 2017 Rodriguez helped guide the team to one of the most successful seasons in program history as the team qualified for it’s first-ever NCAA Division III Championship appearance as the team won 26 games, including a perfect 3-0 mark at the Skyline Conference Championship to win the title. Rodriguez’ pitching staff ended the season with a combined 256 strikeouts, which was the most ever while amassing a 5.17 ERA, third best in program history. At the conclusion of the regular season, Travis Bruinsma ’20 was named Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year, while Brian McLaughlin ’17 was named Skyline Conference Player of the Year and an ABCA All America Second Team member after three recognition on three regional teams.
During the 2016 season, Maritime had another successful season with Rodriguez on the staff as the squad finished with a program-best 22 victories with 11 of those wins coming against league opponents as the Privateers finished third in the regular season. On the year, the team scored a program-record 229 runs, and also set program marks in RBIs with 192, triples with 10, and home runs with 22. Following the conclusion of the season, the team had a program-best six Skyline All-Conference selections.
In his first season on the staff, Rodriguez helped guide the Privateers to a 12-win season which included seven victories in league play. With its seven wins, Maritime clinched its best regular season finish in fourth place to earn a berth in the Skyline Conference Tournament. After a season which saw several key records fall, senior Matthew Sollin and freshmen Chris Deddo and Tyler Stuart earned All-Conference First Team Honors. Sollin went on to pick up D3baseball.com All-New York Region Third Team Accolades.
Rodriguez brings over three decades of playing and coaching experience to the Privateers after most recently serving as a baseball instructor and personal trainer at the ProSwing Training Facility in nearby Port Chester, N.Y.
In addition to his time at ProSwing, Rodriguez also served as an assistant coach with several high schools in Brooklyn. Before his stops in the high school ranks, he also spent numerous years with travel baseball teams, and other baseball organizations in numerous capacities.
Prior to his coaching and training career, Rodriguez had an 11-year stint as a professional baseball player that began in the 1990 MLB First-Year player draft in which he was selected 41st overall by the Boston Red Sox.
After being selected, Rodriguez was assigned to the Elmira Pioneers of the New York-Penn League as a shortstop and hit .271 with six home runs and 31 RBIs in 67 games en route to being named the Red Sox’ NYPL Top Prospect of the League.
The following season, he was converted to a pitcher and sent to Lynchburg of the Carolina League, where he was second on the team with 12 wins with a 3.09 ERA as a 19-year old. After ascending through the Red Sox organization, he made his Major League debut on April 26, 1995 and retired the first three batters he faced in tossing a perfect inning.
After nine appearances with the Red Sox, Rodriguez was traded to the Minnesota Twins and completed his rookie season by throwing 105 2/3 innings. He continued his career in the Twins organization through the 1998 season, which included a 13-win season in 1996. He later went on to play for the Seattle Mariners (1999-2000) and the Cincinnati Reds (2001) before stepping aside from his playing career.
He collected 29 wins over 654 innings pitched while striking out 371 batters in his seven-year Major League career.
Rodriguez played collegiately at Howard College in Big Spring, Texas and was named the 1991 Dick Howser Trophy WInner, awarded to the national college baseball player of the year. Others to win the 'Heisman Trophy of College Baseball" since Rodriguez includes; Jason Varitek, Todd Helton, J.D. Drew, Jered Weaver, David Price, Buster Posey and Stephen Strasburg.
