LAS CRUCES >> In a baseball town like Las Cruces, there has never been a player of the caliber or impact on professional baseball such as Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.
That is until Sunday when the 1999 American League Most Valuable Player and 2003 World Series champion made an appearance at the Field of Dreams Baseball Complex.
“I played professional baseball for 25 years and learned if you work hard and do things the right way, you can do anything,” Rodriguez said.
Las Cruces High baseball coach Gil Padilla threw some batting practice pitches to Rodriguez, who said he hadn’t hit a baseball for two years.
“He’s a future Hall of Famer,” Padilla said. “Just to come out here as somebody with a World Series winner, it’s just awesome,” Padilla said. “Some of these younger kids might not know who he is but now that they all have smart phones, they can Google him and figure out who he is. He’s a great guy and it’s awesome for (SunWest Mortage and Steinborn and Associates Real Estate) to do this.”
The 42-year-old Rodriguez came to Las Cruces on behalf of SunWest Mortgage and Steinborn and Associates Real Estate. SunWest Mortgage is based in Rodriguez flew in to El Paso from Dallas on Sunday afternoon and will make an appearance in Albuquerque on Monday. Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico and opened its first Las Cruces branch on Sunday.
“To have him in Las Cruces for the youth to see him and to hear from him, that just doesn’t happen that often,” said John Hummer, owner of Steinborn and Associates Real Estate.
Rodriguez is currently splitting his time as a consultant/coach with the Texas Rangers, who he played for from 1991-2002 and in 2009. The 14-time All Star and 13-time Gold Glove catcher also played for the Florida Marlins (2003), Detroit Tigers (2004-08), Houston Astros (2009) and Washington Nationals (2010-11).
“You have to have good discipline and respect the game, that’s what I told these guys,” said Rodriguez, referring to the high school players who shagged balls in the outfield.
Rodriguez spoke briefly to local baseball fans who braved the Sunday heat to get a glimpse of Rodriguez and get a baseball, hat or baseball card signed.
“I just know that he’s one of the best defensive catchers in MLB history,” said former Las Cruces High pitcher J.T. Romney. “He is the biggest name I can think of that has been here so it’s good to meet him and talk to him.”
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