Julio E. Rodriguez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #27 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: An under-the-radar signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, Rodriguez put up back-to-back solid seasons in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 and the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2017, then spent the 2018 season at Low-A Peoria. Rodriguez hit well at High-A in 2019 and briefly made his upper minors debut, setting the stage for an anticipated 2021 encore performance. But he dealt with a wrist injury, missed two months and struggled with the bat in 29 games at Double-A Springfield.
  
  Scouting Report: Rated the best defensive catcher in the Cardinals system in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Rodriguez stands out for his receiving, blocking and game-calling ability, profiling as an above-average defender. He has an average, accurate arm and a swift transfer. Rodriguez has the defensive ability to become a backup at the big league level, but he may never hit enough to get to that point. He has a short swing and solid bat-to-ball skills, but pairs that with below-average power.
  
  The Future: Rodriguez could head back to Double-A to attempt to improve upon his 2021 struggles before making his Triple-A debut.
  
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #19 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez is a testament to the value of digging a little deeper to scout. He signed for $25,000 as an 18-year-old and turned 19 before his second game in the Dominican Summer League, but the Cardinals quickly found his catch-and-throw skills made him a very useful backstop. He was a Florida State League all-star in 2019, made it to Double-A at the end of that year, and spent the summer of 2020 at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez does not have a plus tool, but his game-calling, receiving and blocking skills make him an above-average defender and give him a path to a useful MLB career. He’s athletic for a catcher and has solid balance and flexibility in his setup. His arm strength is average, but he has a quick transfer and throws accurately. Rodriguez has a contact-oriented approach with a short stroke. He has below-average power, but he can yank a line drive over the left field fence. Like many catchers, he’s a baseclogger.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez was left off the 40-man roster but went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. He’s ready to head to Double-A. With his reliable glove, he’s not far away from being a backup option in the major leagues.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Cardinals invite 60-70 unsigned players to their Dominican academy every winter to try and find players who were overlooked during the international signing period. Rodriguez was one of those unsigned invitees in 2016 and impressed the Cardinals with his catch-and-throw skills. They signed him for $25,000. Rodriguez led high Class A Palm Beach in batting average and OPS through the first half of 2019 to earn Florida State League all-star honors, then was promoted to Double-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez stands out for his solid all-around game more than any individual tool. He makes frequent contact with a short, compact stroke, drives the ball with gap power and flashes occasional home-run power to his pull side. He controls the strike zone and limits his strikeouts. Though thick, Rodriguez is an above-average receiver and blocker who keeps wild pitches and passed balls to a minimum. His arm strength is average and plays up with his above-average footwork, transfer and accuracy, resulting in consistent sub-2.00 second pop times.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez has a quiet personality and is still working to improve his leadership and game-calling abilities. If he does, he has a chance to be a steady everyday catcher.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: An under-the-radar signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, Rodriguez put up back-to-back solid seasons in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 and the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2017, then spent the 2018 season at Low-A Peoria. Rodriguez hit well at High-A in 2019 and briefly made his upper minors debut, setting the stage for an anticipated 2021 encore performance. But he dealt with a wrist injury, missed two months and struggled with the bat in 29 games at Double-A Springfield.
  
  Scouting Report: Rated the best defensive catcher in the Cardinals system in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Rodriguez stands out for his receiving, blocking and game-calling ability, profiling as an above-average defender. He has an average, accurate arm and a swift transfer. Rodriguez has the defensive ability to become a backup at the big league level, but he may never hit enough to get to that point. He has a short swing and solid bat-to-ball skills, but pairs that with below-average power.
  
  The Future: Rodriguez could head back to Double-A to attempt to improve upon his 2021 struggles before making his Triple-A debut.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez is a testament to the value of digging a little deeper to scout. He signed for $25,000 as an 18-year-old and turned 19 before his second game in the Dominican Summer League, but the Cardinals quickly found his catch-and-throw skills made him a very useful backstop. He was a Florida State League all-star in 2019, made it to Double-A at the end of that year, and spent the summer of 2020 at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez does not have a plus tool, but his game-calling, receiving and blocking skills make him an above-average defender and give him a path to a useful MLB career. He's athletic for a catcher and has solid balance and flexibility in his setup. His arm strength is average, but he has a quick transfer and throws accurately. Rodriguez has a contact-oriented approach with a short stroke. He has below-average power, but he can yank a line drive over the left field fence. Like many catchers, he's a baseclogger.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez was left off the 40-man roster but went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. He's ready to head to Double-A. With his reliable glove, he's not far away from being a backup option in the major leagues.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez is a testament to the value of digging a little deeper to scout. He signed for $25,000 as an 18-year-old and turned 19 before his second game in the Dominican Summer League, but the Cardinals quickly found his catch-and-throw skills made him a very useful backstop. He was a Florida State League all-star in 2019, made it to Double-A at the end of that year, and spent the summer of 2020 at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez does not have a plus tool, but his game-calling, receiving and blocking skills make him an above-average defender and give him a path to a useful MLB career. He’s athletic for a catcher and has solid balance and flexibility in his setup. His arm strength is average, but he has a quick transfer and throws accurately. Rodriguez has a contact-oriented approach with a short stroke. He has below-average power, but he can yank a line drive over the left field fence. Like many catchers, he’s a baseclogger.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez was left off the 40-man roster but went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. He’s ready to head to Double-A. With his reliable glove, he’s not far away from being a backup option in the major leagues.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez is a testament to the value of digging a little deeper to scout. He signed for $25,000 as an 18-year-old and turned 19 before his second game in the Dominican Summer League, but the Cardinals quickly found his catch-and-throw skills made him a very useful backstop. He was a Florida State League all-star in 2019, made it to Double-A at the end of that year, and spent the summer of 2020 at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez does not have a plus tool, but his game-calling, receiving and blocking skills make him an above-average defender and give him a path to a useful MLB career. He’s athletic for a catcher and has solid balance and flexibility in his setup. His arm strength is average, but he has a quick transfer and throws accurately. Rodriguez has a contact-oriented approach with a short stroke. He has below-average power, but he can yank a line drive over the left field fence. Like many catchers, he’s a baseclogger.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez was left off the 40-man roster but went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. He’s ready to head to Double-A. With his reliable glove, he’s not far away from being a backup option in the major leagues.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Cardinals invite 60-70 unsigned international players to their Dominican academy each winter for a tournament to try and find players who were overlooked. Rodriguez was one of those unsigned invitees in 2016 and quickly impressed the Cardinals with his catch-and-throw skills. They signed him for $25,000. Rodriguez led high Class A Palm Beach in batting average and OPS through the first half of 2019 to earn Florida State League all-star honors, then was promoted to Double-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez stands out for his solid all-around game more than any individual tool. He makes frequent contact with a short, compact stroke, drives the ball with gap power and flashes occasional home-run power to his pull side. He controls the strike zone and limits his strikeouts. Though thick, Rodriguez is an above-average receiver and blocker who keeps wild pitches and passed balls to a minimum. His arm strength is average and plays up with his above-average footwork, transfer and accuracy, resulting in consistent sub-2.00 second pop times.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez has a quiet personality and is still working to improve his leadership and gamecalling. If he does, he has a chance to be a steady everyday catcher.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Cardinals invite 60-70 unsigned players to their Dominican academy every winter to try and find players who were overlooked during the international signing period. Rodriguez was one of those unsigned invitees in 2016 and impressed the Cardinals with his catch-and-throw skills. They signed him for $25,000. Rodriguez led high Class A Palm Beach in batting average and OPS through the first half of 2019 to earn Florida State League all-star honors, then was promoted to Double-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez stands out for his solid all-around game more than any individual tool. He makes frequent contact with a short, compact stroke, drives the ball with gap power and flashes occasional home-run power to his pull side. He controls the strike zone and limits his strikeouts. Though thick, Rodriguez is an above-average receiver and blocker who keeps wild pitches and passed balls to a minimum. His arm strength is average and plays up with his above-average footwork, transfer and accuracy, resulting in consistent sub-2.00 second pop times.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodriguez has a quiet personality and is still working to improve his leadership and game-calling abilities. If he does, he has a chance to be a steady everyday catcher.