The wait was well worth it for Texas Rangers utility infielder Guilder Rodriguez.
The 31-year-old played 13 seasons and 1,095 games in the minor leagues before the Rangers called him up earlier in September. Rodriguez’s 1,000-plus games with 10 different teams in the minors were the most games played without an appearance in the bigs, but Monday night, his perseverance paid off in a big way.
Making his second major league start, Rodriguez recorded his first two major league hits, including a tiebreaking RBI single and a run scored in the Rangers’ 4-3 win over the Houston Astros. But the night was made all the more special for Rodriguez, as his father Guillermo, who hadn’t seen his son play in the U.S. since 2004, was in the stands cheering him on.
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“This is one of the best moments of my life,” Rodriguez said, via ESPN.com. “My first big league hit, my first RBI, my father in the stands, my wife. This is my second-best moment, after my two daughters were born.”
Rodriguez’s father, who arrived from Venezuela on Sunday night, lifted both of his arms in the air and wiped away some tears when his son collected his first MLB hit. The Rangers dugout responded in kind, giving Rodriguez a standing ovation in what was overall just a “special” night for the until-now career minor leaguer.
”I think the only word is special for me,” interim manager Tim Bogar said. ”When he got his first hit, it was hard not to cry looking at his dad. It was pretty special that he got a chance to do it in front of his dad. Then the second hit that gave us the lead, that’s kind of storybook for us.”
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@sportingRSS
