Sharyland's Rodriguez headed to Mizzou

MISSION - Andre Rodriguez's path to major college baseball wasn't the smoothest or the straightest, but it still got him to one of the Big 12's leading programs.

Rodriguez, a former Sharyland outfielder, accepted a partial scholarship offer last week to play for head coach Tim Jamieson and the University of Missouri Tigers. As a senior, Rodriguez hit .379 with nine home runs at 38 RBIs and led the Rattlers to the third round of the playoffs. At Rattlers home games, his walk-up music was preceded by a line from Anchorman, with Ron Burgundy saying "I'm kind of a big deal."

And after what he went through during his sophomore and junior years, it definitely is a big deal that Rodriguez is headed to Missouri.

Prior to his sophomore season, Rodriguez broke his right wrist in a car accident, costing him the entire season. Then, halfway through his junior year, a back injury caused him to miss the rest of that season.

Sharyland coach Barton Bickerton said "it's great" to see Rodriguez sign with the Tigers after the challenges he faced.

"He's still not where he completely needs to be just because he missed all that time," Bickerton said. "It's great, especially since we knew he would be in this situation or better when he was a freshman starting. It's nice to see him hang in there and pretty much fulfill his dreams with going to a big school."

Those two injuries somewhat took him off the recruiting radar, but a strong senior year and timely power in front of college coaches while playing for the South Texas Sliders traveling team, including two home runs in front of Jamieson, helped him gain more attention from major programs and, eventually, a scholarship offer from Missouri.

"He's on cloud nine. His feet aren't even touching the ground," Andre's father, Jose said. "He gets to play in the Big 12, and when they come down here to play Texas and A&M, we'll be able to watch him play. I'm sure we'll make a couple trips up to Mizzou."

Missouri, which finished 39-21 and reached the NCAA Tournament, is one of the Big 12's emerging teams. The program has produced some of Major League Baseball's best young players, including Texas Rangers All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler, who played for the Tigers in 2003 after transferring from Arizona State.

The Tigers also had six players drafted this year, including pitcher Aaron Crow, who was the ninth overall pick by the Washington Nationals. The draft also opened up a spot on Missouri's roster for Rodriguez, who had already applied and been accepted to MU.

Now, though, he knows where he'll be playing college ball. And, for that matter, where he's going to continue his education, with classes in Columbia starting next month.

"I had been talking to different schools. I knew I was going to play somewhere but I was nervous not knowing where I was going, whether I was going to have to play in junior college or what I needed to do first," said Andre, who had also been in contact with Texas and had already accepted an academic scholarship to Baylor.

"I know I'm going to play. I'm going to work hard and it will just take care of itself," Andre added. "I'm excited and glad for this opportunity."

Brian Sandalow is a sports writer for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.