He Defected From The Cuban National Team In June, Now He Pitches At Miami Dade College

By Ammy Sanchez and Victor Gonzalez-Vaca

A cocktail of emotions flickered through his mind—sadness, happiness and a wave of calm—as Andy Rodriguez made the decision that would change his life forever.

As the Cuban National Team boarded a plane destined for Havana on June 2, 2021 after a pre-Olympic tournament in West Palm Beach, Rodriguez, the team’s star reliever, stayed behind. 

After all, that was always the plan. The well-traveled right-hander with the explosive 94 mph-plus fastball was scheduled to take a flight to Japan five days later to join a professional team that was sculpting his enormous talent.

But something changed. Rodriguez never boarded that plane. He stayed in the United States to chase his dream of playing Major League Baseball.

“I was left with nothing,” said the 23-year-old Rodriguez, as he recently recalled the day he defected. “Everything I had, I left behind in Cuba and Japan.”

His family, which included his grandparents and his mom, Aray Marks. His childhood friends, the ones he learned to play baseball with. All of it—left behind. 

No warning. No last goodbye. Just gone. 

“I miss my friends, my friends from the neighborhood where I was born and raised. They were always with me giving me advice” Rodriguez said. “I miss my family, also the stadium where I played. I miss everything.” 

Hours later, Rodriguez showed up unannounced at his father’s home in Kendall. Amaury Rodriguez greeted his son with a firm hug, the kind you give someone you haven’t seen in four years.

“It was something really beautiful,” Rodriguez said. “He told me that was the best gift he could’ve received.”

Picking Baseball

Rodriguez was born in Havana, Cuba, so naturally baseball was in his blood.  When the youngster was four years old, Amaury took him to a volleyball complex but Rodriguez made it clear what sport he wanted to play.

“I always wanted to be a baseball player because I enjoyed watching baseball when my grandparents and parents watched it on TV,” Rodriguez said. “ I liked how they batted, how they ran [and] how they threw the ball.”

He started fostering his skills in Guanabacoa, a town in Eastern Havana, and he ascended quickly through a variety of levels. When he was 18, Rodriguez was promoted to La Habana and eventually worked his way up to the Industriales. Along the path, his electric arm caught the attention of the Cuban National Team after they saw him perform in the Cuban National Series. 

Rodriguez debuted in the 2017-2018 Cuban National Series with Industriales. That season he posted a 2-1 record with a 4.70 ERA. During the 2019-2020 Cuban National Series season, Rodriguez posted a 1.99 ERA with an 8-1 record and 17 saves, according to Baseball Reference. 

Restarting At MDC

Today, the six-foot-one-inch power pitcher is reigniting his career—and the rest of his life—at Miami Dade College. 

His arsenal includes a deceptive fastball, a change-up and a slider. Rodriguez is also making the transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation as he waits for the MLB Draft in June.

The process has been an arduous one. Over the past few months, he has worked on stretching out his arm and building his stamina. He has accelerated his training sessions from 20 throws per workout to 50-60.   

Rodriguez, who is learning English, knows the process will take time. The belief is that he will pitch deep into games, averaging five to seven innings per start.

In his first game at MDC on Jan. 28 versus the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, Rodriguez came out of the bullpen to relieve Miguel Gonzalez in the fifth inning. He pitched four innings, walked three, struck out five and did not allow a run. 

He made his first start of the season on Feb. 9 versus Florida Southwestern State College. Rodriguez struck out eight batters in six innings, surrendering three runs including giving up two home runs.

 On the season, he is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 10 innings. 

“We will monitor him as the season goes and we will extend him,” said Sharks’ pitching coach Bryan Morgado. “We have a very open communication. As far as he and I go, we communicate daily. He will tell me how he feels.”

His teammates at MDC say Rodriguez is an example to follow. Despite an impressive resume that includes playing in 10 countries—Korea, China, Mexico, Canada, Panama, Nicaragua and Colombia among them—he has remained hardworking.   

On the mound, he is confident, intense and evokes positive emotions. 

“Andy is a tremendous guy,” said right-hander Jose Pichardo, who has grown close to Rodriguez as the two transition from the bullpen to starting this season. “Social, humble, always helping people.”  

The Sharks hope to channel Rodriguez’s energy this season. They have a strong conviction that his talent can take them deep into the postseason.  

“Andy is our ace, our number one pitcher,” Morgado said. “We are counting on him to pitch the first game of every series, set the tone and hopefully we get the win every time he steps on the mound.”