(Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 13, 2020) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) today announced that Ellie Rodriguez has been selected as the field manager of the 2020 Road Warriors, returning to the post he held when the traveling club last played in 2018.
“Having Ellie back for the coming season is beneficial to everyone in the league,” said ALPB President Rick White. “His steady hand and lengthy experience in professional baseball, especially the Atlantic League, gives us a significant head start in a forging a competitive Road Warriors roster for the 2020 season.”
Before leading the Road Warriors in 2018, Rodriguez spent 15 years in the role of Player Development Consultant for the Atlantic League. Among his various responsibilities, he was in charge of scouting and recruiting players in Latin American countries to play in the league. He also has previous managerial experience in Mexico with Cafeteros de Cordoba and Petroleros de Minatitlan, as well as in Puerto Rico with Vaqueros de Bayamon.
Prior to joining the ALPB, the Puerto Rico native enjoyed a professional baseball career that spanned 18 seasons, including nine in Major League Baseball. He combined to play in 775 games with the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers, accumulating a career .245 batting average, 16 home runs, 203 RBI, 220 runs, and 332 walks. He was also selected as an American League All-Star in 1969 with the Royals and again in 1972 with the Brewers.
Rodriguez was a defensive stalwart, with a .989 fielding percentage while throwing out 41% of potential base stealers during his time in the big leagues. Among his many career highlights, Rodriguez caught Nolan Ryan’s fourth no-hitter on June 1, 1975, while with the Angels against the Baltimore Orioles.
2020 will mark the Road Warriors’ eighth season of play in the Atlantic League. Previous installments of the franchise include the Pennsylvania Road Warriors (2002-04) and the Road Warriors (2006-07, 2011, 2018). The league-operated club plays each of its 126 games on the road and will begin the 2020 season on Friday, May 1, against the Somerset Patriots in Bridgewater, N.J.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 42 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history. For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
Foto: Road Warriors
