Brendan Rodgers (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|image = Brendan Rodgers (220902-F-JW079-1139) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Rodgers with the Rockies in 2022

|name = Brendan Rodgers

|team = Houston Astros

|number = 1

|position = Second baseman

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|8|9}}

|birth_place = Winter Park, Florida, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 17

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Colorado Rockies

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 17, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .265

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 45

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 201

|awards =

Gold Glove Award (2022)

|teams =

Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Houston Astros ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Brendan Austin Rodgers (born August 9, 1996) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies. He was drafted third overall by the Rockies in the 2015 MLB draft.

Early life

Brendan Austin Rodgers was born on August 9, 1996, in Winter Park, Florida,{{cite web |title=Brendan Rodgers Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/brendan-rodgers-663898 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |access-date=April 20, 2022}} to Greg and Julie Rodgers, owners of an apparel and promotions company.{{cite news |last=Ruiz |first=Stephen |title=Lake Mary shortstop's hard work turns into lofty draft status |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-hs-lake-mary-brendan-rodgers-baseball-draft-20150404-story.html |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=April 4, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |url-access=limited}} Rodgers' father and his two brothers both played soccer, and he only began playing baseball at the urging of a neighbor.{{cite news |last=Lara-Cinisomo |first=Vince |title=A Day In The Life: Brendan Rodgers |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/a-day-in-the-life-brendan-rodgers/ |work=Baseball America |date=December 11, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2022}} He grew up playing on youth baseball teams with Bo Bichette, the son of Major League Baseball (MLB) player Dante Bichette, and when Rodgers was five years old, the elder Bichette told his parents that he had "a serious future in baseball".{{cite news |last=Newman |first=Kyle |title=The making of Brendan Rodgers: How his neighbor and a Blake Street Bomber enabled 'a natural' to flourish |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/19/brendan-rodgers-colorado-rockies-rookie/ |work=The Denver Post |date=May 19, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |url-access=limited}}

Rodgers attended Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida, and played for the school's baseball team. After playing as a second baseman during his first year, Rodgers switched to shortstop for the next three seasons.{{cite news |last=Amore |first=Dom |title=Former Lake Mary shortstop continues rapid rise with Rockies in Class AA |url=https://www.courant.com/os-brendan-rodgers-class-aa-hartford-0627-story.html |work=Hartford Courant |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |url-access=limited}} During his senior season at Lake Mary, Rodgers batted .368 with eight home runs and 23 runs batted in (RBI).{{cite news |title=Brendan Rodgers, Kyle Tucker lead big night for high schoolers at baseball draft |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2015/brendan-rodgers-kyle-tucker-lead-big-night-for-high-schoolers-at-baseball-draft |work=USA Today |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2022}} Outside of his high school team, Rodgers played for the Orlando Scorpions, a traveling team previously attended by Chris Sale, Zack Greinke, and Jonathan Lucroy.{{cite news |last=Lemire |first=Joe |title=MLB draft's 'top talent' Brendan Rodgers goes to Rockies with No. 3 pick |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/draft/2015/06/08/brendan-rodgers-colorado-rockies-shortstop-lake-mary-high-school-mlb-draft/28717371/ |work=USA Today |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2022}}

Professional career

=Colorado Rockies=

==Minor leagues==

File:Brendan Rodgers (43580264231) (cropped).jpg]]

The Colorado Rockies selected Rodgers out of high school with the third overall pick of the 2015 MLB Draft.{{cite news |last=Groke |first=Nick |title=Rockies draft Brendan Rodgers, a high school shortstop, with No. 3 pick |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2015/06/08/rockies-draft-brendan-rodgers-a-high-school-shortstop-with-no-3-pick/ |work=The Denver Post |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |url-access=limited}} He had previously committed to playing college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles,{{cite news |last=Mayo |first=Jonathan |title=Path to the Draft: Rodgers chasing his dream |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/path-to-the-draft-top-prospect-brendan-rodgers-works-daily-to-keep-his-dream-going/c-108429596 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2022}} but he signed with the Rockies on June 17 for a $5.5 million signing bonus. After signing, Rodgers began his professional baseball career with the Grand Junction Rockies, a Rookie-level team in the Pioneer League.{{cite news |title=Rockies sign top 2015 draft pick, high school SS Brendan Rodgers |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13102912/colorado-rockies-sign-first-round-draft-pick-brendan-rodgers |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2022}} He played there for the entire 2015 season, batting .273 with three home runs and 20 RBI in 37 games and 143 at bats.{{cite web |title=Brendan Rodgers Minor Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rodger000bre |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 20, 2022}} Rodgers was promoted to the Low-A Asheville Tourists for the 2016 season, where he impressed manager Warren Schaeffer by batting .358 with seven home runs and 27 RBI through the first month of the South Atlantic League season.{{cite news |last=Berghaus |first=Bob |title=Tourists' Rodgers not a typical 19-year-old player |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/2016/05/09/tpurists-rodgers-not-typical-19-year-old-player/84131378/ |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=May 9, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |url-access=limited}} This included his first career grand slam on May 7 during a 16–7 Asheville victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds.{{cite news |last=Avallone |first=Michael |title=Rodgers has grand moment for Tourists |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-176822196 |work=MiLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=May 7, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2022}} He played 110 games in Asheville, batting .281 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 442 at-bats.

Rodgers spent 2017 with both the Lancaster JetHawks and the Hartford Yard Goats,{{cite news |title=Rockies Top Prospect Brendan Rodgers Promoted to Yard Goats |url=https://www.milb.com/news/rockies-top-prospect-brendan-rodgers-promoted-to-yard-goats-238052248 |access-date=July 20, 2023 |publisher=MILB.com |date=June 22, 2017}} batting a combined .336 with 18 home runs, 64 RBI, and a .940 OPS in 89 games between both teams.{{Cite web |title=Brendan Rodgers Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=663898#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL |access-date=December 9, 2017}} In 2018, he played for both Hartford and the Albuquerque Isotopes, compiling a combined .268 batting average with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 114 games.{{Cite web |title=Brendan Rodgers Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=663898#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL |access-date=October 11, 2018 |publisher=MiLB.com}} Rodgers opened the 2019 season back with Albuquerque.{{Cite web |last=RotoWire Staff |date=March 16, 2019 |title=Rockies' Brendan Rodgers: Won't break camp with big club |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-brendan-rodgers-wont-break-camp-with-big-club/ |access-date=May 16, 2019 |website=CBS Sports}}

==Major leagues==

On May 17, 2019, Rodgers was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Patrick Saunders |date=March 17, 2019 |title=Rockies' Brendan Rodgers brings hot bat, sweet swing to his MLB debut |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/17/rockies-officially-call-up-brendan-rodgers/ |access-date=May 17, 2019 |publisher=The Denver Post}} He made his major league debut that night versus the Philadelphia Phillies.{{Cite web |last=Thomas Harding |date=March 18, 2019 |title=Rox callup Rodgers nets RBI in 1st MLB at-bat |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brendan-rodgers-rockies-promotion |access-date=May 18, 2019 |website=MLB.com}} In 25 games for Colorado during his rookie campaign, Rodgers batted .224/.272/.250 with seven RBI.{{Cite web|title=Brendan Rodgers 2019 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35073/year/2019/category/batting|access-date=February 24, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}} Rodgers only appeared in 7 games in the pandemic shortened 2020 season for the Rockies, before landing on the injured list due to lingering problems in his right shoulder.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/31/brendan-rodgers-rockies-injured-list-shoulder/|title=Rockies' infielder Brendan Rodgers headed to injured list with more shoulder problems|date=September 2020}}

On March 19, 2021, Rodgers suffered a strained hamstring, requiring at least a month of recovery.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Brendan Rodgers Out At Least A Month |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/brendan-rodgers-rockies-injured-list-hamstring-strain-month.html |access-date=November 2, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} In 102 games for the Rockies, he slashed .284/.328/.470 with career-highs in home runs (15) and RBI (51).{{Cite web|title=Brendan Rodgers 2021 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35073/year/2021/category/batting|access-date=February 24, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

On June 1, 2022, Rodgers enjoyed his first career three home run game. His third home run in the contest was a walk-off home run off of Cole Sulser to defeat the Miami Marlins, 13-12.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/video/brendan-rodgers-three-homer-game | title=Brendan Rodgers' three-homer game | 06/01/2022 | website=MLB.com }} In 137 appearances for the Rockies, Rodgers batted .266/.325/.408 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Brendan Rodgers 2022 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35073/year/2022/category/batting|access-date=February 24, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}} He also led the NL in double plays grounded into (25).{{cite web | url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=0&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2022-01-01&enddate=2022-12-31&sort=19,d | title=Major League Leaderboards » 2022 » Batters » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball }}

On February 28, 2023, in a spring training game against the Texas Rangers, Rodgers suffered a dislocated left shoulder that jeopardized the start to his season.{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Matthew |date=February 28, 2023 |title=Notes: Rodgers' injury; Blackmon looking good |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brendan-rodgers-sustains-shoulder-injury-in-rockies-loss |access-date=January 4, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} After recovering, he played in 46 contests for Colorado, hitting .258/.313/.388 with four home runs and 20 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Brendan Rodgers 2023 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/35073/year/2023/category/batting|access-date=February 24, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

In 2024, Rodgers batted .267/.314/.407 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI, and led MLB in ground ball percentage, at 56.1%.[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=al&lg=nl&qual=y&type=2&season=2024&month=0&season1=2024&ind=0&sortcol=5&sortdir=default&pagenum=1 "2024 Major League Leaders,"] Fangraphs. Rodgers was non-tendered by the Rockies on November 22, 2024, making him a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/colorado-rockies-shockingly-elect-to-non-tender-gold-glove-second-baseman-brendan-rodgers-veteran-starting-pitcher-cal-quantrill-free-agents-01jdbgxsy0h8 |title=Colorado Rockies Shockingly Elect to Non-Tender Brendan Rodgers, Cal Quantrill |first=Sam |last=Connon |publisher=si.com |access-date=November 22, 2024}}

=Houston Astros=

On February 18, 2025, Rodgers signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.{{cite news |title=Astros add Brendan Rodgers amid Jose Altuve LF experiment |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43920870/astros-add-brendan-rodgers-amid-jose-altuve-lf-experiment |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=ESPN.com |date=February 19, 2025}} On March 27, the Astros selected Rodgers' contract after he made the team's Opening Day roster.{{Cite web|title=Astros Designate Cooper Hummel For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/astros-designate-cooper-hummel-for-assignment-2.html|access-date=March 27, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}{{cite news |title=Astros Make Curious Decision on Former No. 3 Pick |url=https://athlonsports.com/mlb/houston-astros/astros-curious-decision-on-brendan-rodgers-former-no-3-pick |access-date=March 26, 2025 |publisher=althonsports.com |date=March 26, 2025}}