Jeremy Rodriguez – Bench Coach
Rodriguez will serve as the team’s primary third base coach, work with the infielders and help with defensive positioning in games. He’s the staff’s youngest member at just 29. He played five seasons within the Padres’ organization.
The former catcher was born in Burbank, California and graduated from Crespi Carmelite High School in neighboring Encino.
He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the Bakersfield campus of California State University.
Rodriguez played for five seasons within the Padres’ organization hitting .235 over 175 games. His last three seasons were all with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Advanced Single A California League.
After two seasons as the manager of the DSL Padres he was signed by the Dodgers to manage the Great Lakes Loons in 2017. During the 2018 season he managed the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League. His leap to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers is a bit surprising, at least from the outside.
On January 7, 2019 Steven Douglas of LWS Baseball met Jeremy Rodriguez on the back fields of Camelback Ranch and asked him how it felt to wear a uniform that has “Dodgers” scripted across the chest.
“It definitely feels a lot like home. Reggie [Smith} taught me the Dodger way while I was Younger, and it really helped me adapt a lot faster with the organization. The Dodgers is a first-class organization and I’m extremely honored to be able to put on that uniform each day. All the history that comes with the name is remarkable and I’m just extremely blessed to be a part of it.”
Douglas asked JRod – as he called Rodriguez – how he found about his promotion.
“Brandon Gomes, our farm director, and I went on a walk after one of our Instructional League games and asked how I felt about being a bench coach in the higher levels.” Rodriguez continued, “I thought it was exciting news because I don’t have coaching experience in the higher levels and for me, I knew it was going to be a great learning experience. I want to grow as much as I can as a coach and getting experience at the highest level in the minor leagues is definitely going to help my growth.”
As we might expect, Jeremy Rodriguez would like to manage at the MLB level so working at the AAA level is getting him closer to that goal.
“If it’s Gods will, then it will happen. Right now, I’m just trying to learn something new every day and be the best teammate I can be. Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be in the big leagues and that’s what I’m working towards.”
Travis Barbary- Manager
Eyes were opened when Travis Barbary was named the manager of the Oklahoma City Dodgers for the 2019 season. The now 47-year-old had a very brief minor league career. As a 22-year-old he played 17 games with Great Falls in the Pioneer League. That was it.
Since then he has been a Dodger for life over the past 25 years serving as the organization’s roving catcher coordinator for the past 12 years.
He has managed before but still. He was the Rookie-Level Ogden manager in 2003 and 2004. He also managed Low-A Columbus from 2005-06. He was a hitting coach in the lower levels of the system after spending four seasons as the Dodger bullpen catcher.
As a catching coordinator he has had extensive contact with two of the Dodgers’ top prospects – Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith – both catchers on the cusp of MLB. The expectation is that both will be on the opening day roster with the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Thursday, April 4 in San Antonio.
There is more to a manager than just being a former ball player. The man who can guide young men not only to become better ball players but especially to grow as young men is all important as many of the young men do not get to fulfill their dream of MLB.
I came across two interviews that may help us understand why Travis Barbary would be put into a high-level managing position in this particular year.
First an interview by Diamond Prospects on January 5, 2017.
DP- What did baseball mean to you as a player? What does the game mean to you now?
“As a young man, baseball was probably the most important thing in my life. I dedicated myself to becoming the best at what I did. However, looking back, I didn’t enjoy playing the game as much as I should have because I put too much pressure on myself to be perfect. Now, as a coach, I try to get young players to understand that in order to improve, they have to make mistakes and learn from them. As a coach, I believe that giving a player permission to make mistakes allows them to ultimately play with more freedom.”
DP- Give a young high school player who is reading this article one piece of advice:
“Enjoy the game. Baseball is such a hard game to play and we only make it harder by trying to be perfect. Don’t be afraid to fail. Our failures can be our best teacher. Pay attention to the game. Learn everything you can and then apply it. Be a great teammate.”
A second article was written by Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports on February 27, 2018. Perhaps some of you have read it. I had not.
Travis Barbary as we might expect has observed and worked with young catcher Keibert Ruiz since he was signed by the Dodgers and along each stop on the way. Aware of the culture shock for the young catcher and the communication gap as he struggled to learn English and speak with pitchers on the mound, Barbary came up with a plan. He asked the Dodgers if Ruiz, then 18, could live with him in Clemson during the winter along with his wife and four children. Keibert could learn English there. He could train in modern facilities. Brown also writes: “He could watch hours of “The Andy Griffith Show,” for which Barbary’s fondness is legendary.”
“We thought it was a great idea,” Friedman said. “More than that, it would be interesting to see Keibert’s reaction. That would tell us something about him.”
This is part of what they found out.
“I feel really fortunate I found someone like him,” the ballplayer says in careful English. “I don’t know how to repay him. They are like my family.” Then he adds, to be sure he has it just right, “Mi familia.” Brown continues that the youngster started calling Travis Barbary, “Papi”, when he already has a Papi back home in Venezuela.
Discussion (110)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Gonna borrow a page from Mark’s book. The Joe Kelly and Pollock signings are for October, not the regular season. Wouldn’t have it been great in the World Series to have a healthy Pollock raking(instead of us striking out WRISP), or Joe Kelly setting up Kenley? Think long term, not April, May and June. All the haters on Pollock will be digging him come play-off time. I am bummed that Puig is no longer with us, but Pollock has alot of upside if you give him a chance. Think play-off time, not spring time.
He passed his physical
There is a reason nobody signed Pollock. The Dodgers got desperate to show they are doing something.
Is your name Danny Friedman?
Just asking?
People on this board know people.
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The Dodgers play it pretty close to the vest, so no one is going to be 100% right.
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I have a few connections left and sometimes they are right… sometimes not so much.
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I will tell you that some people with the Reds are sick about losing Downs and Gray.
Bleh.
Does Danny actually have sources, or is he just floating hope?
Serious question.
My sources tell me Joc is going to Miami for Realmuto, Miami is trying to get Ruiz in the deal but might settle for Smith, also Barnes might be included and 3 more lower tier prospects
Wait until training deadline to trade for Realmuto. The longer we wait, the less time the Marlins to find a compatible suitor and the better sense that we should have regarding Ruiz’s and Smith’s capability in the upper level of the minors. I would suggest doing the same thing for any additional pitching ( starting or relieving).
Do the Dodgers lose a draft pick?
The Dodgers are better now than they were yesterday. They now have $12M less payroll flexibility for 2019 but who knows if that flexibility would have ever been used if Pollock were not signed. Toles could be the player that gets nudged out again. Hopefully he finds a spot on the 25 if not with the Dodgers then with another team. He deserves it.
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Now waiting for the second shoe to drop.
Everyone in here wants Realmuto but no one wants to give up Bellinger, Ruiz or Verdugo. If you get the best catcher in baseball, you are going to have to give up something. Sticking with Barnes and Martin isn’t going to win the World Series . Realmuto is a five tool player with two reasonable years left on his contract. Get-R-Done……………………………
https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-pollock-plaschke-20190124-story.html
I’m not the only one asking this question. Same thing being said on MLB Radio by people much smarter than me too.
Pollack just had another freekish injury. He just sprained his wrist signing his new contract. Out for ST.
AJ is a better player than Puig when he’s healthy. It just hasn’t happened for a long time. It’s actually happened once. When the Dbags were at their best I would argue that it was just as much about Pollack if not more than Goldy. We’ve seen spurts where he just destroys the Dodgers and the rest of the league for a month or two and then the same thing happens. He gets hurt and fades. It begs the question if you’re willing to pay AJ for his post 30″s seasons for 4 years, then why the hell aren’t you willing to pay Bryce Harper for his prime into the same years that you’re willing to pay a lesser player?
The Los Angeles Dodgers who are tops in attendance, tv money, charge a redonkulous amount of money for parking, plus concessions shouldn’t be penny pinching to stay under the luxury tax so they can save about $7 million in a luxury tax penalty.
So far they’ve given away Puig, Wood, and CASH for a couple B prospects. Puig who makes $9.7 million at the age of 28, and they also lost Grandal. They’ve added a washed up catcher who was always overrated, Joe Kelly, and a very talented, but always injured OF in Pollack for 4 years at the age of 31 who will make $12 million per year while giving up a draft pick that will be #31 in the draft.
I get they are counting on the maturation of Buehler, Urias, and Bellinger. Plus the return of Seager, but Seager for Machado is probably a wash. Seager most likely with a better average, but less power and we can debate who’s better defensively. I tend to think it’s Machado due to his arm. We don’t know how Seager responds though. It may take a bit of time. At this point, this team appears to be the NL West Champs again. I tend to believe the people aren’t giving the Rockies enough credit though. Ottavino is really the only guy of importance that they lost from my perspective. All be it he’s a very big loss. Anyways this Dodgers team barring any other major additions looks like the NL West Champs again not World Series winners.
Adding Realmuto could change that for me, but I would have a hard time giving up Ruiz for 2 years of Realmuto. Last year they replaced Morrow with Alexander. Not enough. Replacing Puig with at 31-yr old Pollack could be the same result as they watch Harper sign with the Phillies or Nats.
I like the Pollock deal. Rosenthal’s argument that the flexibility and depth of the Dodgers will allow them to provide Pollock with more time off rings true to me. And it is also true that Pollock’s injuries have mostly been freakish injuries that involve broken bones. So unless Pollock has a chronic bone density problem (that would show up in a physical), I am not overly worried about his injury risk.
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I have never seen Ruiz play, but his performance last year as a 19 year old in AA, and the 8.9% strikeout rate that Mark mentioned earlier, makes it seem unlikely to me that the Dodgers would entertain moving him in any deal.
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Also, when making deals I am certain that AF is looking years down the road when the Dodgers are going to be required to pay Seager, Bellinger, Buehler, etc. So, for example, I don’t see why they would trade a player like Ruiz, when they know that before long they would be forced to pay Realmuto big $$ in order to retain him long term. That’s also why I doubt if a Harper deal is in the works.
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And that line of reasoning extends to other potential deals.
Very pleased with this signing.
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Now sign Manny.
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LF Verdugo
SS Manny
2B Seager
CF Pollock
3B Turner
1B Muncy
RF Bellinger
C Martin / Ruiz after ASB
Bench
Joc
Kike
CT3
Freese
Trade Toles, and enough to get under the Luxury Tax Threshold
Now trade Muncy for Merrifield. Belly goes to 1b, Merrifield to 2b & RH leadoff hitter, Verdugo RF, Pollock in CF. Muncy for Merrifield seems fair. Both about the same age & under team control. Muncy has more power, Merrifield is faster in position of need. Others could be added to the trade if needed. Dodgers still have options for further trades. Joc, Barnes, Smith, Alvarez , Beaty & Stewart for JTR.?
AC – I was a freshman and I was on the field for the first day of varsity ball and around the cage comes Dave Nelson. My favorite HS player.. I heard the rumors and it was all true. He was a player.. One helluva player. Cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Is Pollock the new lead off hitter?
Taylor now backups Pollock and Seager.
Pederson is still in LF for now.
If Verdugo is traded for Realmuto then who plays RF? Belli?
If Verdugo and Muncy are traded for Haniger, Belli plays 1B, Hanigar plays RF.
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Are the Dodgers better with Haniger and Pollock added or with Realmuto and Pollock added?
To keep Ruiz the Dodgers will probably have to give up Muncy to get either Haniger or Realmuto but I am betting it will take Ruiz to get Realmuto.
I do think you will see another deal or two.
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Kluber ain’t coming. The ONLY way the Indians will trade him is if they get a Top-of-the-rotation prospect back and the Dodgers don’t have one. End of story.
I do not believe that Friedman will trade Ruiz, nor does he have too. Maybe Cartaya… Ruiz is very close… and maybe later this year, but certainly next year!
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I do not particularly like this deal for Pollack, but I can live with it!
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Lux, Ruiz and Verdugo are off limits in trade. The Dodgers have enough prospects and could turn Joc into a prospect too. I would sooner deal Muncy than Ruiz.
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How about this?
1. Pollack CF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger CF
5. Realmuto C
6. Verdugo RF
7. Taylor/Toles LF
8. Hernandez 2B
With the signing of Pollock(after physical) it will stop all the rumors involving Castellanos, Haniger, Stanton, etc.
I am not worried about Pollock’s injury history. Most of his injuries were freak accidents. Not something that could reoccurr like hammys. Good move. I think they will continue to look at Realmuto, but only at their price. I just do not think they will trade Ruiz or Verdugo.
RVS may have had an input on this decision to sign AJ. He worked with him in AZ last year before injury and may have seen something in his makeup he really likes. I am not thrilled with the road splits but anything to put Cody back to 1st is good with me. Keep in mind Andrew does not give up a 1st rd pick, $500k international money to do this unless he and the braintrust think that we get a bargain out of this. Here is an article I found on the RVS effect on AJ: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2018/03/07/arizona-diamondbacks-robert-van-scoyoc-dan-haren-dave-magadan/404893002/
I sure do hope Kluber is next. 3 Aces at the top of the rotation with Urias #4- WOW! that would be lights out. I would rather keep away from JTR and wait to see how Ruiz pans out unless we can get JTR with a trade of (Barnes, Joc’s prospects, and Smith). Any more and I would walk away from JTR.
Now we need Realmuto and we are ready to go back to the World Series. I would include Ruiz for Realmuto, Hell Realmuto is the best catcher in baseball right now, I don’t give a damn what the shredder says. We can extend him past the 2 years, we are the L. A. Dodgers. Ruiz will probably be really good someday but let’s win now.
They are saying the Dodgers are still in intensive on going talk with the Marlins, for JD Realmuto too.
So, we get Pollock in his age 31-34 seasons. So why is everyone clamoring negatively about signing Bryce through his age 35 on a 10 year deal?
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Pollock, Harper and JTRM. Let’s do this!
Per Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports:
“When Pollock broke his thumb in mid-May, he was batting .293 and OPSing .969, primarily as the Diamondbacks’ cleanup hitter. He returned in early July and batted .236 with a .704 OPS through the end of the season. After hitting 11 home runs in his first 150 at-bats, he hit 10 in his final 263. “
I just have to say that I’m really happy about this one. He’s a true CF, so I’m curious where Belli will wind up defensively.
According to Nightengale’s Twitter feed, the Dodgers are focusing on Realmuto next. Big surprise!
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Pollock is very good when healthy – but he has only been healthy all season in 1 season out of 6 or 7.
This has to be fake, because we were told Friedman would never ever sign any hitter to a deal greater that 2/16, since he’d never done it before!!
Edit: Bob Nightengale states the deal is 4/50
I see Joc leaving town pretty quickly. Pollock, Bellinger and Verdugo look to be the every day outfield starters.
A. J. Pollack signed by Dodgers lending physical!
AC
Do you see any trades happening now that we signed AJ Pollock?
Dodgers and AJ Pollock have reached an agreement, pending physical!
Great news – Pollock on the way
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https://mobile.twitter.com/JeffPassan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
AC – Being an alum of Serra H.S. Gardena, there have been many a gridiron battle against Crespi. Good stuff.
I want to make the point that Kaybear Ruiz could very well be a generational talent. He is not a player you would trade away… PERIOD!
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Alex Verdugo struck out 13.7% of the time in 2018.
Will Smith struck out 28% of the time last year.
Ruiz struck out 8.7% of the time.
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Also, Ruiz had more at-bats than Verdugo or Smith.
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AS A FREAKIN’ 19-YEAR-OLD, RUIZ STRUCK OUT 8.7% OF THE TIME!
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Are you kidding me that you can’t project that?
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Verdugo as a 20-year-old in AA, had a 14% strikeout ratio.
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As a 21 year-old in A and AA , Tony Gwynn had a 9% strikeout rate.
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We know Verdugo has good bat-to-ball skills, but an 8.7% strikeout ratio as a 19 year-old is unheard of. Most players strikeout rates go up as the get to the majors. Will Smith’s 28% ratio might be 35% in the majors. That won’t work.
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Ruiz hit 11 HR last year, playing in a league where he was 4 years younger than the average player. He hit 6 of those HR in the last 2 months. He power is now appearing. His footwork behind the plate is very good and he is not a slow runner, while not as fast as Smith. His throwing needs work and I think the team will intensely focus on that this season.
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He is as very unusual talent who projects to produce some great results in the major leagues. There’s no way he gets traded. Believe none of that garbage.
I have another teaming in a future article but I think they come from the goodness of the heart with their coaches.
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I remember the story of Russell Martin living with Logan White and his family during the winters as working on baseball in Montreal is not all that easy.
Good article on both Jeremy and Travis. I am more focused on Jeremy because of his Crespi roots. Other former Crespi Carmelite sports alums: RHSP Jeff Suppan, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen (SS) (both graduated HS 1993), catcher Rick Dempsey, 3B Trevor Plouffe, current Mariners 1B Ryon Healy, and of course former running back Russell White. The San Fernando Valley Catholic High Schools have graduated more than their share of quality athletes, that have gone on to play professionally. Having all three of my kids spend 12 years of Catholic elementary and high school education (not Crespi) and all three being good athletes, I got to know the Valley Catholic High Schools very well. I am a little biased.
Very nice DC.