Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?
David Rodriguez was a free agent signing last off-season to help fill out Mets catching depth. He was slated to go to Syracuse and then you know – the pandemic happened – and we missed out of a whole year of Rodriguez playing games in the Mets system. He made his minor league debut with the Rays all the way back in 2013 as a 17 year old and his stats have always been a bit interesting.
He has been a much better hitter in International Leagues. Across 7 years in the minors he has a .250/.322/.369 line (and that includes one year of minor league ball in the Venezuelan Summer League where he hit .329/.409/.540). As an international player in winter leagues he has hit .363/.430/.546. Including this past winter in the Venezuelan Winter League where he hit .383/.481/.579 in 160 PA’s followed by a .333/.429/.500 stint in the Caribbean Series.
After the Ali Sanchez trade the Mets have Patrick Mazeika, followed by Bruce Maxell and David Rodriguez as catching depth. Essentially the Mets are hoping that if needed, one of them can be similar to Tomas Nido. Mazeika’s advantage is that he is already on the 40-man roster and has been in the Mets system for years. Maxwell’s advantage is that he has had time in the majors. Rodriguez is the wild card. Despite not hitting well in the minors he has hit well in the winter. After a year where no one hit in the minors – where does that leave him? He’ll probably get an extended look this year at camp.
