With the 1st pick of the 19th Round (557th overall), the Astros select 5'9" 195lb Jake Rodriguez, a Junior right-handed hitting C from Oregon State.
Rodriguez hit .268/.383/.357 this season, with 2 HR and 32 RBI in 168 AB. He was previously selected in the 11th round of the 2010 Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. A gold medalist with Team USA in the Pan-Am Games, Rodriguez describes himself as a player thus:
"I think I'm tough. I can be put in any position, just because I play so many positions. I catch, play third and second. With me, I don't think you are going to get cheated on effort. I think that is one of my stronger things."
Regarding his rather small stature for a catcher (1.06 Altuves), OSU coach Pat Casey said:
"Not for us, not at the college level, we’re not worried about his size. Everyone is always looking for more size at certain positions, but you can get too big for it, too. We’ve got some people with some size who we’d like to see play with the enthusiasm and effort he does. He makes up for any deficiencies in that area with the way he plays the game."
His Oregon State bio page is here.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
