Hartford, Conn. - Trinity baseball senior Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez knows what it takes to handle being a student-athlete at the collegiate level, and for the last four years he has done it with determination and success. A four-year starting catcher, two-year captain, NESCAC Co-Rookie of the Year, All-NESCAC First and Second Team honoree, and 2020 Strength and Conditioning All-American Award recipient, Rodriguez has proven himself on the field and in the weight room.
Rodriguez hails from South Windsor, Conn, just 15 minutes away from campus. This was one factor that drew him towards Trinity during his high-school senior fall. Rodriguez instantly loved the campus and the team and knew it was a place he could thrive.
Rodriguez had a breakout season during his rookie year. He batted .342, good for second on the team, scored 21 runs and belted three triples. He was awarded NESCAC Rookie of the Year honors, just the third player in Trinity baseball history to be honored with that award. Rodriguez said his first year was a tough season to follow up. “It was almost second nature in my sophomore year to try my hardest to do even better than my first,” which ultimately led to less success in his second year, Rodriguez said. He said he learned that “half of baseball is a mental game. It’s a game of failure… and the worst thing you can do is let it get to you.”
Rodriguez returned to form in his junior year. “The biggest turning point for me was being named captain my junior year because that was when I realized that regardless of what kind of success I was having on the field, I had to be a leader for my team.” Rodriguez’s teammates recognized this as well. “Although he struggled in his sophomore year, Alex still kept the team first, which is why many of us voted for him to represent our class as the junior captain,” current senior tri-captain Alex Herbst said. Herbst added that Rodriguez pushed his teammates in a positive way. “Alex’s eagerness to succeed not only for himself, but for the team is what separates him from most individuals,” he said.
Rodriguez ended his impressive junior season by earning All-Conference Second Team, leading the team in RBIs with 33 along with 38 hits in 129 at-bats. At the end of 2019, the Bantams qualified for the NCAA tournament. That post-season run, which was played on Trinity's Murren Family Field in DiBenedetto Stadium, was one of the best moments in Rodriguez’s time at Trinity. “Being able to not only play in a regional, but to host on our field... it’s just a whole different atmosphere that you can’t really explain. As an athlete, I live to play in the big moments.”
The Bantams ultimately lost in the final game of NCAA DIII Regionals, but went 3-2 in the tournament. Head Coach Bryan Adamski said, “It is no coincidence that we got back to a regional under his leadership. He cares about his teammates and doing things the right way.”
In his senior year, Rodriguez continued to lead on and off the field and was once again named team captain. Rodriguez learned that leadership entails a strong work ethic and responsibility. "I always tried to go at it 100% and positively influence the team. Once this kind of standard and energy is exhibited to the team, it is not hard for the rest to follow,” Rodriguez added, “But at the same time, I have to be self-accountable off the field as well.” Classmate and co-captain Matt Koperniak spoke highly of Rodriguez’s tenacity. “Few guys could match his intensity on the field and in the weight room,” Koperniak said. “That constant focus was motivation for us all.”
Rodriguez is a sociology major and throughout his time at Trinity, especially during his first year, he learned how to handle the demands of a rigorous academic schedule and playing a sport at the collegiate level. “It’s not easy, and it’s certainly not for everyone, but once you get the hang of it, the passion for your sport makes it doable.” Herbst described Rodriguez as “a workhorse,” then said, “He has been an excellent example for the younger guys on the team and even motivated the upperclassmen when we were first-years. His succeed-or-die-trying attitude motivated myself and our other teammates to be better with him.”
Head coach Bryan Adamski said, “Alex is the one of the most dynamic and passionate captains to come through the program during my time here. Individually, he has grown a lot as a player, working himself into the most complete catcher in the region. He plays his best in the biggest spots and shows up everyday with a smile on his face.”
Just like so many other athletes this season, Rodriguez and his fellow senior teammates were devastated about the 2020 season being cancelled. “We’ve always heard the saying, ‘don’t take anything for granted’,” Rodriguez said, “but this is the first time it’s really come into play for me. It just goes to show that we have to appreciate every single moment we have in our lives.” When Rodriguez got the news that their season was going to be given back to them as an additional year of eligibility, he thought of “no other place than Trinity.” “Trinity has my heart,” he continued, “Trinity is where I started, and with the fact that Trinity offers a graduate program, I’m going to do everything I can to make Trinity the place I finish.”
For Rodriguez, the irreplaceable bond that Trinity baseball creates is something that he will miss the most in the future. “Regardless of our recent success during the past couple of seasons, the one thing I’ll always hold close to my heart is the bond each of the guys had with one another. The relationships we build translates into a true brotherhood, especially after all of the work we put in together.”
Although this season was cut short, it does not mean the end of Rodriguez as a Bantam. “We proved our worth, and it’s only a matter of time until Trinity brings a championship trophy back to campus, just watch.”