Four MDC Baseball Players Are Hopeful On The Eve Of 2022 MLB Draft

Reaching the Major Leagues is a gargantuan milestone in a baseball player’s career. 

Four Miami Dade College athletes—Andy Rodriguez, William Silva, Loidel Rodriguez and Jose Hernandez—are a step closer to realizing that dream as the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft approaches.

The 20-round draft will take place July 17-19 in Los Angeles, California. 

“They all have the tools and the abilities to play at the next level,” said Sharks’ Head Baseball Coach Adrian Morales about the draft-eligible players. 

Catcher Juan Gonzalez was the only MDC player selected in last year’s draft. He was taken in the 19th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Gonzalez has one home run, six RBI and a .210 batting average in 81 at bats this season for the Dunedin Blue Jays, a Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League. 

Since 1963, there have been 472 MDC players drafted by MLB and 12.9 percent (61) of them have reached the Big Leagues, according to the website The Baseball Cube.  

One of the Sharks’ top prospects this year is Andy Rodriguez. The 23-year-old right-hander defected from the Cuban National Team in June of 2021. 

He excelled this past season, mixing a 94-mph plus fastball, a deceptive changeup and a nasty slider while posting a 10-3 record as he transitioned from the bullpen⁠—where he pitched in Cuba⁠—to the starting rotation. 

Rodriguez was tabbed the Southern Conference Pitcher of The Year, striking out 121 batters and posting a 2.45 ERA. He also collected a victory at the State Tournament and struck out 14 batters in two appearances in the playoffs.

He has been training for the past two months in preparation for the draft. Rodriguez starts his day at the gym lifting weights for a couple of hours and then he heads to the MDC baseball field to join the other draft-eligible players from the College for a workout. He stretches, throws batting practice and focuses on his technique.

“I am really calm and focused on being ready for that day because I worked hard and I gave my best,” Rodriguez said. “I trust in myself, and I trust in my talent.”

The three other draft hopefuls from MDC are:  

Loidel Rodriguez, who was born in Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba, had five home runs, 45 RBI and a .318 batting average for the Sharks last year while serving as a catcher and first baseman. Rodriguez was selected to the All-Southern Conference Second Team. 

Hernandez is an outfielder/shortstop who was tied for the team lead in home runs (nine) and stolen bases (10) last season for MDC. He is currently playing for the Woodstock River Bandits, a collegiate summer league team in the Valley Baseball League in Woodstock, Virginia. Hernandez was selected to participate in the Valley Baseball League All-Star game on July 17.

Right-hander William Silva had 39 strikeouts in 22 appearances for MDC this season while boasting a 2.48 ERA. He was selected the Southern Conference Fireman of the Year.

“I am hoping some of my guys [are drafted] because I know it is their dream to play professional baseball,” Morales said. “I will be rooting for [them].”

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