Jorma Rodriguez on the upswing for Captains

The Western Michigan Whitecaps didn’t have to worry about slowing down Captains second baseman Jorma Rodriguez and his team-high .346 batting average.

Captains manager Luke Carlin elected to rest Rodriguez for the opener of a four-game series on April 23 at Classic Park. Tyler Friis got the start at second base in what ended as a 2-1 victory for the Captains.

In 14 previous games, Rodriguez had fashioned a team-high .345 average with team-high totals of 58 at-bats, 20 hits and 25 total bases.

It’s an auspicious start for the 22-year-old native of Venezuela who signed with the Indians in July 2012 as a non-drafted free agent. In five previous minor-league seasons, he batted a combined .240 with six home runs and 94 RBI in 281 games.

This isn’t the Jorma Rodriguez who, in 88 games with Lake County last season, batted .201 with three home runs and 16 RBI.

“I never lost my confidence,” Rodriguez said.

His strong start this season, Rodriguez added, began last year playing for Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League.

“I played with a lot of big leaguers and worked on everything,” Rodriguez said. “I talked to those guys about what they do at bat. They tell me, find your pitch and put your best swing on it. This year, I have a much better idea what I’m doing up there. I want to swing at my pitch, especially fastballs, and stay off the pitches I don’t like.”

Rodriguez, signed as a shortstop, has put in the work with his glove at second base, too. This season, in 55 chances, he’s made one error and has helped turn eight double-plays.

“This game can get going really fast, but I’ve learned to slow things down and anticipate,” Rodriguez said. “The scout who signed me, Antonio Caballeros, told me to practice at every (infield) position. Now, I feel good at second base, shortstop and third base.”

Rodriguez maintains close ties with his family in Venezuela. He has his parents’ names, Ladeslao and Marlenis, tattooed on both on both arms just above the wrist.

His language skills are markedly improved..

“Three years ago, I couldn’t speak a word of English,” he said, smiling. “I’m learning the language because I want to talk to people. I don’t want to need a translator.”

Captains hitting coach Pete Lauritson said Rodriguez has been one of the team’s brightest lights in the still-young season.

“Every day, he brings energy to this group. His work ethic is off the charts,” Lauritson said.

“The improvements he’s making at the plate start with him chasing fewer balls out of the strike zone,” Lauritson added. “He’s made great progress attacking balls in the (strike) zone. He understands now if he stays in the zone, he’ll have success.”

Lauritson said the way Rodriguez is handling himself at second base is another reflection of enhanced confidence.

“There are plays he makes the average player can’t make,” Lauritson said. “That speaks to his overall athleticism.”

Walkoff win

Through eight innings, the Captains hadn’t mustered a run against West Michigan starter Eudis Idrogo and reliever Max Green. The Whitecaps scored their run in the top of the second on an RBI ground out by Ignacio Valdez.

Lake County starter Juan Hillman had limited the first-place Whitecaps to that lone tally on one hit in five innings. Gregori Vazquez was stellar in relief with four shutout innings. The two pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts.

The Captains made sure that good pitching did not go to waste.

Leading off in the bottom of the ninth inning, Austen Wade singled off Green. In came reliever John Hayes, who retired Ulysses Cantu on a routine fly ball. It all went downhill from there for Hayes. He surrendered a single to Todd Isaacs, a game-tying, RBI double to Tyler Friis and then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Isacs to race home with the winning run.

Lake County improved to 8-8 with a second straight win. West Michigan slipped to 11-4