Paco Rodriguez: Drafted to MLB in 96 Calendar Days

Summary

In this episode of Catch Up with JP, host Jeff Perro interviews former MLB pitcher Steven 'Paco' Rodriguez, who shares his journey from growing up in Miami as a Marlins fan to becoming a key player in the Dodgers bullpen. Rodriguez discusses his college experience at the University of Florida, his transition to professional baseball, the challenges he faced with injuries, and his eventual shift to coaching and mentoring young players. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, attention to detail, and the relationships built throughout his career.

Transcript

Jeff Perro (00:35)
Welcome to this week's episode of Catch Up with JP. I'm Jeff Perro I am here this evening with Mr. Steven 'Paco' Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez was an integral piece of the Dodgers bullpen from 2012 to 2015, in addition to being an integral piece of the University of Florida bullpen.

in his college days. Mr. Rodriguez, welcome to the show.

Steven Rodriguez (00:57)
Thank you. Appreciate you for having me and it's going to be a pleasure talking and just going back to the glory days.

Jeff Perro (01:03)
It's a blast doing this. And I've met so many people that I've never talked to before. You had that little awkward, hey, how's it going? Nice to meet you. And then, man, we get into it. We just start talking about baseball and it's so much fun. But, Mr. Rodriguez, you grew up in Miami. You grew up a Marlins fan?

Steven Rodriguez (01:23)
Yeah, so born and raised in Miami, and as a child, it was always about the Marlins and it was always about the Yankees and my family just because it was the two teams that we followed along, especially from my parents and their history in Cuba. The two teams that they could follow up was always the Yankees or the Marlins. So that's how I kind of grew into baseball. so since I can remember, I had a bat in my hand with the Marlins hat on, and that was the way that I kind of came up into the game for sure.

Jeff Perro (01:50)
you went to Gulliver Prep High School in Miami. All state, all everything I imagine.

Steven Rodriguez (01:58)
Yeah, so I had a pretty good career there. I came in as a sophomore. I got onto varsity as a sophomore of helped out out of the bullpen and played a little bit of outfield during that time. from there, progressed into the starting role junior year and went junior and senior year and did very, very well during those two years.

Jeff Perro (02:18)
drafted in the 48th round by the Astros Any serious thought signing that contract?

Steven Rodriguez (02:24)
No, know what I was I don't think I was mature enough at that point in time And you know just within discussions with the family and everything that came down to it think I just wanted to go to college I wanted to experience that and you know at the same time be able to get my education So I think that was the the main goal, you know at the end of the day You know choosing the University of Florida over Miami was a big deal, you know at home But as a whole it was a great decision and it was probably the best route for my career in the baseball standpoint

Jeff Perro (02:54)
going to University of Florida definitely goes against the hometown, U Miami crowd. Cuz that's a big, that's a big scene down there you spent three years at the, University of Florida that was good for your development? Good for your maturity?

Steven Rodriguez (03:09)
Yeah, I think that was the biggest step that I took when it came to my baseball career just because between the coaches and that staff at the time between, of course, Kevin O'Sullivan, the head guy still there, somebody I still talk to to this day, they had Coach Craig Bell that was there, he really helped out, just keeping the mood at ease. And then of course you had the hard-nosed

Brad Weitzel at the time arm which was the person that reminded us of all the little details within the game that really put into perspective of how to prepare and become a professional at the end of the day so between those guys between what i uh... got out of them and you know the just the maturity aspects the competitive side and then the professional side i think those guys really put you in a position to create success on the field that you know put me in a position to really

do what I did, know, and pro ball as a whole.

Jeff Perro (04:02)
Because then by the time you move on the pro ball, you manage yourself more. So by instilling those processes in you in college, it is automatic by the time you move in the pro ball.

Steven Rodriguez (04:12)
Yeah, you know, I think what college really teaches you is, you know, just kind of be able to grow up, your routines, make sure that you make sure that you eat well, make sure that you have everything on schedule. And at the end of the day, just making sure that you're taking care of all your surroundings to make sure that you perform on the field, take care of your school and do the right things off the field. You know, I think those were the biggest things that that school really taught me, at the University of Florida.

It was a privilege and it was really a great experience of being able to go into pro ball and having a routine and having some type of understanding of how to take care of the preparation aspect of the game. And I think that's the hardest part that you kind of have to figure out is can I build a routine, a quality routine, and then be able to repeat it every day regardless of your surroundings. And I think that was the biggest thing that I took out of college, for sure.

Jeff Perro (05:06)
College World Series, how was that? That's got to be the pinnacle of your baseball career at that point, correct?

Steven Rodriguez (05:13)
Yeah, no question.

At that point in time, know, I'm going three years in a row, you know, I got to play the last year, Rosenblatt which was, you know, the first time ever being there for me as a freshman and being able to experience that, you know, we went two and out. wasn't the best experience, but you know, you got the feel of it and you got what college baseball is all about. that was the first little taste. And then from there, you know, you build off of that and go into sophomore year into junior year.

where we got to the second to the last game that we lost to South Carolina in my sophomore year. And we battled against those guys with the Michael Roths of those days and having to compete against them. had Jackie Bradley that was there, [Scott] Wingo that was there, got Christian Walker. So you had a bunch of guys that were super talented players that made a great career for themselves. So it was a huge battle.

Unfortunately, we came out on the losing side, but it was a lot of fun and you can't take away those experiences for anything in the world.

Jeff Perro (06:10)
2012, that's a heck of an experience. That's a eventful year for Mr. Paco Rodriguez. 2012.

Steven Rodriguez (06:19)
Yeah, absolutely. It was

such a, I would say it was a swivel just because there were so many amazing things that happened through the course of that year. Of course, I have a great season, was able to get back to the College World Series. We make a push for it, didn't work out. Next thing you know, I'm getting drafted.

getting picked by the Dodgers, didn't even have a conversation with the Dodgers at the time. They just called me when they drafted me and said, hey, we're taking you here. We didn't have any conversations or anything along the lines. And which was funny. I was just talking to Logan White [Dodgers' Scouting Director, at the time] about this. And the reason that they didn't call me was because they didn't want anybody to know that they wanted to take me. know, so was one of those things where they kept the super secretive. And at the end of the day,

it was uh... something that you know you you dream of you know it's the Yankees or the Dodgers those are the two teams that that if anybody could get picked by that's where you want to go you know so of course i get drafted by them uh... finally uh... sign the paperwork head out to spring training complex uh... in glendale and from there you know have a little workout get my feet wet they ship me out i go to uh... Midland, Michigan spend a couple of weeks there and then next thing you know i'm in AA at Chattanooga and then

spend about a month and change there and next thing you know I'm in the big leagues and it's a swivel. It's a swivel. just, you know, I was going at a really good pace at that point and everything was falling into place and I got the opportunity. know, that's what Logan [White, Dodgers Scouting Director] told me. He's like, if you go pitch well enough, you might have a chance to make it to the big leagues and that's exactly what happened, you know, between him and De Jon Watson [Dodgers' Director of Player Development, at the time], were the two guys that were kind of guiding me through that process. They really pushed me through, which was awesome.

Jeff Perro (08:08)
Was that suggested on that first phone call when they call you and say hey you sign with us and you might be in the big leagues by the year was that something that you were prepared for?

Steven Rodriguez (08:18)
It was a part of the conversations that wasn't something that I felt like I was just being sold hey, let's let's get you signed. Let's see what you can do And maybe you'll make it up to the big leagues by the end of the year wasn't I didn't think that it was possible but at the same time my competitive nature and who I who I was as a ballplayer was Was up for the challenge, you know, and I think that was what?

Logan told me he's like, look, you might have a chance. And I said, okay, let's go. And I was ready for the opportunity and I was really competing not just to get to the big leagues, but to show that I belonged, you know, and I think that was the biggest thing. And I took that attitude every day. And next thing you know, I threw extremely, extremely well threw the, I think it was 19 or 21 innings that I had that, that first year and did very well. think I gave up one run and it was to,

what's this guy's name i not coming to mind right now he's super fast it wasn't d gordon it was

Jeff Perro (09:17)
Billy Hamilton? You said really fast, Billy Hamilton came to mind, yeah.

Steven Rodriguez (09:18)
Billy, there he goes, there he goes, Yeah, yeah, that was

Billy. Billy was the one that I walked him, he stole two bases and then on a fly out scored, know, so it was, it was funny to think about at the end of the day, but I was like, yeah, I could have thrown him a fastball down the middle to hope that he hit it to somebody, you know, rather than walk him. But yeah, that was the only run that I gave up and I just, you know, I had a lot of success during that period of time and.

It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. And the next thing you know, I'm getting a phone call from, from De Jon and then from Logan White. And then it was, Hey, what are you doing? And I was at the golf course with the guys and coach, Chuck Crim And we were just all swinging the clubs and having a good time. And they called me and they're like, Hey, what are you doing? And I'm like, well, we're at the golf course hanging, you know, and they're like, well, you need, you need to rush home and pack up your stuff. And I'm like, what's going on?

And they're like, yeah, we need you in LA. And I'm like, you're serious right now? Like, you serious? Yeah, like I was like, you guys serious right now? And he's like, yeah, you need to go pack up your stuff. You need to be on a plane in like three hours. And I was just like, didn't know what to expect. Complete shock, know, everything, you know, you're getting all the feels going through it. Didn't know how to answer them at the time. I was just like, okay, you know, and I hang up and.

Jeff Perro (10:19)
California Los Angeles LA.

Steven Rodriguez (10:43)
I called my dad and my mom and let them know and that's when all the emotions kind of break out and I'm like, yeah, I'm going, I need to see you guys there. So we got them on the plane and we did the whole thing. And it was a really, really special moment and a fun experience at the end of the day.

Jeff Perro (10:59)
Threw your stuff in the locker, what happened next?

Steven Rodriguez (11:01)
so I came in threw a bullpen I had warmed up that game, And then we were on the road and we went to San Fran where I got my first appearance, against, Brandon Belt for one out. You know, I got him to ground out to first. yeah. So there was, those few days where.

Jeff Perro (11:18)
You did your job. You succeeded.

Steven Rodriguez (11:20)
I succeeded. I was blacked out through the whole thing but I found a way to make it work. It was great. was super, super exciting. I couldn't have asked for more, that's for sure.

Jeff Perro (11:34)
So after that, Did you feel like, okay, I can do this. I belong here.

Steven Rodriguez (11:39)
Yeah, absolutely. think, you know, and I think most guys will tell you, you know, early on you're just living off adrenaline and you're just whenever your name is called, you get up there, you go do your thing and just try to execute pitches. There's nothing else that you can accomplish besides that. You know, so I think that was the biggest thing for me was I just wanted to execute pitches. I wanted to have my routine in check and make sure that everything was.

was just focused on me, the catcher, and the glove. That's it. Everything else will take care of itself as long as I execute it day in, day out.

Jeff Perro (12:10)
you were successful 2012 13 14 15 years successful in the big leagues. So what you were doing definitely work So 2013 following year 76 games That's a that's a heck of a workload. Even if you know, you're not doing two entire innings appearance That's a it's a workload. You're getting hot that many times plus a year

Steven Rodriguez (12:16)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, and then you don't count the times that you did get hot and you didn't get in that day, you know? So you're always taken into consideration those times, but it was something that I wasn't going to say no to. think that was just my way of being a competitor. Any day that they tell me, hey, how are you feeling? I'm like, if you need me, I'm ready to go. That's just the mentality that you got to have as a big leaguer

When your name is called, you gotta be ready to go. And I think I didn't like taking the mental days off. If they told me, hey, you got a day off, it just wasn't what I needed to hear, I guess. I wanted to prepare every day to get ready to pitch in a game because that's just the way that I competed. That was the way that I wanted to compete for my teammates and compete for everybody else around me and to just, I need to do my job. that was just the way that I approached it as a whole.

Jeff Perro (13:22)
since I, you know, with my, my career is inside and outside of baseball, those days off, when you turn it off, it's harder to turn it back on. So I could see the keeping it on constantly, which would be beneficial to your performance.

Steven Rodriguez (13:33)
Yeah, I think especially as a

bullpen guy, know, as a starter, it's a little bit different. you'll give yourself, you know, a day or two here, you know, because at the end of the day, are going out there for six, seven innings at a time, you know, and it does take a toll. So it's good to just take a mental day. But, you know, when I came to the field, prepared, I prepared every day and that's, that was the bullpen life at the end of the day. So for me, I was always up for, for, for.

the grinds, know, when it came down to it, the preparation aspect of it and everything, I enjoyed what I needed to do and I know that it kept me mentally right and that was the game for me.

Jeff Perro (14:09)
So we got 2014, same, a lot of time in the Dodgers bullpen, a little bit of time in AAA. And then 2015 was another eventful year, similar to 2012, just the opposite.

Steven Rodriguez (14:24)
Yeah, for sure. I made the team, I was creating some success and then eventually my elbow went in the wrong direction. I remember I struck out Cargo and I felt something in my elbow. Got it checked out after that and just told him, I'm hey, I'm hanging a little bit. I tried to fight through it for, I would say almost two weeks that I tried to fight through it and I wasn't.

creating as much success as I wanted. I wasn't feeling well and then eventually Donnie [Mattingly] was like, hey, we're gonna put you on the DL. We know you're barking. I know you've tried to fight through it, but it's the best thing for you. And I said, yeah, I'm ready for it. I tried to do everything that I could. And then from there, you go through the process where you gotta go see the doctors. You gotta go get your MRIs, see what's going on. So of course they check the elbow. They find a little bit of a, I have some bone spurs in there. I might have a flare in my elbow.

So I went through that process and like anything else you go through protocols and see if you can make it work, you know, so the first thing that we did was get that bone spur taken out, go through the little rehab process, you trying to heal it up. They put a little bit of a PRP shot in there and then you go through the rehab through that process.

And once I got to the end of that process, my elbow still felt the same. And finally, we pulled the trigger and said, hey, we need to get back in there. We need to make sure that we fix this all. And of course, it took a couple of months to go through that process. Got traded at the same time. So then you go through that. got traded

was still rehabbing and then of course my elbow starts barking again and that's you know I went and got the whole procedure done with Dr. Andrews so it was just a lot of moving pieces you know you get traded you're not healthy you're trying to go through all the emotions that you need to go through it was a tough time but it was a great learning experience and at the same time I was like I just want to get it done just so I can get back out on the field.

Jeff Perro (16:23)
You had that first surgery to get the bone spurs removed and you're like, okay, I'm on my way back. I'll be back on the mound. And then it doesn't quite happen.

Steven Rodriguez (16:30)
Yeah, and that was the goal, you know, and everything was going the right way for me. I was going through the rehab process. was throwing, was doing everything that I needed to do and I felt great. You know, I was going through it all. was long tossing, went through it and then next thing you know, I'm throwing a flat ground, I throw a change up and then I feel that same, you know, that nerve like sting again and I was like finally like I can't, you know, I can't do this. I went through it and I'm like, I'm

I gotta go see Dr. Andrews and get this figured out. So yeah, it was mentally tough and it was a part of it that you had to deal with, like anything else.

Jeff Perro (17:09)
You spent 2016 on the shelf for the Braves?

Steven Rodriguez (17:12)
yep,

spent it in Orlando. I did the whole rehab process there in 2016. So, you know, was with the Big League squad, just hanging out until they left and then

went through that there in 2016. Which is great was you had a bunch of guys that were on the same deal. So we had a really good camaraderie when it came to just training together, working out together and going through that process together was really fun with those guys, which makes it a lot easier as a whole.

Jeff Perro (17:39)
The fellowship everybody been in the same boat.

Steven Rodriguez (17:42)
Yeah, everybody's

injured, everybody's going through that same mental rides. We have to keep each other going in that aspect and make sure we take care of each other when it comes to the mental side of it.

Jeff Perro (17:56)
In 2017, you signed a deal with the Orioles and still kind of rehabbing that, made a few appearances with the Orioles, right?

Steven Rodriguez (18:04)
Yeah, yeah, that was the first time that I really got back on the mound

that first year back competing again with the Orioles, it was up and down. Your arm isn't where it needs to be, the bounce back isn't where it needs to be, and then just the feel of the baseball wasn't the same every day. some days I had the stuff, some days I didn't, some days I could locate, some days I couldn't. it was a tough process, but it was a fun process because I was competing.

competing again, you so I always took the good with the good and the bad with the good. I was just happy to get back on the field and compete again knowing that I was still trying to rehab and get myself back on track, you know, so I think that was a positive for sure out of that year.

Jeff Perro (18:46)
And then 2018, you spent a lot of time at Indy Ball, some time with the twins. By 2019, with the Padres and spent a lot of time AA and AAA Did you feel like your back on the trajectory to a big league mound from there? did you feel like you're back in right direction?

Steven Rodriguez (19:02)
they were. They definitely

were. I think when I was with the twins in that 18 season, you know, I think that was the year where I was healthy enough to get back on the mound. I just wasn't consistent, just a matter of getting myself back in throwing shape. You know, I think that was the biggest thing was that that year was more of a reload year. You know, I got myself back out there. I knew that I could do it. I was healthy.

which was the best thing for me. then from there, go into the off season, get to working out. And then I try to make that 2019 season, um, the push. and everything was going great when I was with the Padres. They, you know, they treated me fantastic. and they told me what the plan was. like, Hey, we're going to push you through AA, AAA, and we're going to see where you're at. And if you start creating any type of success.

and you do a good job, you might have a shot to make it back. And we know what you can do with you in the big leagues when you're around that environment and you get more out of yourself when things matter. I felt great throughout the course of that year, arm-wise. the biggest thing that put me in a bind was my knee. At the end of the day, I was pitching with a bum knee.

for about a month before I finally needed to go into the scope and get my knee cleaned out. But I was pitching with my meniscus all torn. I knew that I was putting myself in a position to be able to get back up there, to the point where I couldn't do it anymore, you know. And it was just one more time, you know, you're doing everything that you're supposed to do. You're creating some success. You're being consistent, you know, with your game of play and...

next thing you know boom my knee goes out and I'm trying to figure it out for a month and it just got to a point where I couldn't take it anymore and they were like hey you're pitching great but we know where you're at and I was like yep there's nothing else that I can do that was that and you know from there I went on the shelf I went to see a doctor and they're like yeah you have a bunch of bone spurs there that are are rattling around and so you're not able to

create the extension that you need in your knee and so, you know, just like anything else, you know, it's hard to stay healthy.

Jeff Perro (21:07)
If you're working through a bum knee, that's going to up putting more strain on the shoulder and elbow and then you're back there again

What was your next move? Were you looking for jobs for 2020?

Steven Rodriguez (21:17)
Yeah,

Yeah. So it was, you know, during COVID and all of that, I was down in Miami and I was like, I need to go do something. I was just sitting around, you know, during that time. So I called Sully up and I told Sully, can I come coach? as a student assistant, I'll come back get back into classes And that's exactly what I did, you know, so I went and coached for a season over there. I did that.

I love being out on the field and it was great mentoring those guys and helping out as a student assistant and learning the coaching side of the game and how a top five program in the country is going to go about the business when it comes to recruiting players and going through the grind that it is to put a team together. year in, year out. So was very great experience and it taught me a lot

Jeff Perro (22:05)
Is that your plan for it to be what you're going to do for your down year of 2020? or was that I'm done pitching professionally. I'm now a college coach.

Steven Rodriguez (22:14)
during the rehab process, I didn't get the bounce back that I needed from my knees. Both of my knees were, not great at the time. And it just took me forever to just get back to being able to move okay. and I finally just said, I'm like, my knees can't take this anymore and I'm not going to be able to pass the physical. So it just got to a point where I was like, I need to find something else to do, which wasn't difficult because,

I knew that I have a lot more to give to the game, know, just physically, I just couldn't keep it together, you know, where I can stay out on the field for six, eight months out of the year, you know, stay healthy. So that was the hardest part for me, which did took, mentally, it does beat you up a little bit because, know, you have more to give, but your body just isn't allowing you to do it. I went into coaching and I did that. And then

From there I moved back to Arizona because my son was in Arizona. During my playing career, I was away from him long enough. So I finally made the decision, me go back to Arizona. I started trying to figure some things out over there. And next thing, I started my own baseball club team slash academy on the youth side. I started that when my son was eight years old. I started with him and then eventually I developed into a couple of teams, which I still have to this day now.

And I've been doing since, which has been extremely, extremely fun. You give back to community and at the same time you're allowing kids to be around a professional baseball player and see the experiences, hear the stories. All the learning curves, everything that I kind of went through and all my experiences, I want to be able to give it back to them because at the end of the day, my failures are only what they can learn from. So like anything else that's-

That's the full circle when it comes to life and that was what I wanted to do and it's been super fun since I started.

Jeff Perro (24:01)
How's the, how are the knees? How's the left arm nowadays?

Steven Rodriguez (24:06)
Well, my knees are still barking to this day. I still wobble around I go to the gym, try to take care of myself as best as possible just to make sure that I can function throughout the days. And then my arm is great. My arm, I throw BP to the kids every day and I'm completely fine when it comes to that aspect.

Jeff Perro (24:21)
What else you got going on besides that? You seem like from following you on Instagram, I'll throw a little shout out to Mr. Paco Rodriguez on Instagram, What else you got going on?

Steven Rodriguez (24:32)
Yeah, so besides the Academy stuff, I got into the agents side of the world and started doing that with my old company.

Jeff Perro (24:39)
What did you go back to UF

for? What degree did you get?

Steven Rodriguez (24:43)
My degree was a anthropology at the time which is a funny is just a baseball degree It was the one that was easiest for the schedule I think the coolest part that I learned about anthropology was the study of human life. So you kind of learn about cultures, you learn about different people, you learn about how we came to be. So you kind of open up your eyes to how us humans became.

a civilized people at the end of the day. and then, once I got going through this youth side of baseball, I got back into the agents side of the world just because I wanted to get back into the pro side of baseball, just a little bit more mature conversations and be able to mentor players.

Jeff Perro (25:10)
Yeah, how the brain and how the human body work.

Steven Rodriguez (25:30)
as a whole through the process that I went through. I had the best of ups and the hardest of downs I got a lot of learning experience out of and I can give that back to those guys that are going through that same process. that's why I wanted to get back into it and be able to help these players just stay mentally right through the course of their careers.

Jeff Perro (25:52)
You mentioned mentorship and sharing what you've learned through your career. My two standard questions I go back to with all my guests is what advice would you go back and give your 18-year-old self about your personal journey through baseball, through college, through the draft and the minor leagues, and the mental side of the game and handling your body?

Steven Rodriguez (26:13)
I think the biggest thing that I would love to give my 18 year old self again was I think it's the discipline aspect of it. and I did a good job. I'm not saying that I didn't do a good job because I created success but I think the discipline that you create and the work ethic within what you're becoming, you know, whether

You're a pitcher with your catcher with your infielder outfielder, know, corner infielder, whatever the case may be. Do your homework, do your homework and learn a lot and open up your ears and look at the different ways of the game and try to be smarter than everybody else. I think that's something that took me a little bit, you know, after my freshman year when I had a conversation with the coaching staff, they kind of broke down numbers for me and told me, hey, like this is what you did this year. This is what.

this person did this year and the reality was there was a big league numbers on the right side and my numbers are on the left side and they were like, hey, you're doing this and you're doing this without even paying attention to what you're actually doing. You're just playing right now. I like really focus on the details of the game and focus on, you know, the simple, the simplest thing that they told me is like, do you even pay attention to your game and catch like you're a pitcher Right? And I'm like, yeah, do you pay attention to what you're doing?

Like every throw, you know, and I think that's something that I harp on with my kids. like, if you're not focusing on the 10 minutes a day, that you just need to focus on playing catch and understanding every throw, whether good, bad, or indifferent. If you're just trying to focus on learning from every throw, it's going to develop that much faster. And that was the biggest message after my freshman year was if I pay attention to every throw for 10 minutes a day, I think I'm going to get a lot better. And that's where, you know, my career really took off.

as a whole and that's where my process changed for me. was really good at being able to play catch, understanding how to throw the baseball and that was why I created consistency in the big leagues. That was the only thing that I can say. I can throw the ball where I wanted to, can execute pitches when I wanted to and it all came down to how I prepared it and that was just the game of catch that I played. So I think that's the biggest thing that I want to give back to my 18 year old self is just pay attention to the little things.

and that's one thing that I always tell myself is like if I would have had a little bit more knowledge about my body and what I needed to do as a pitcher rather than just as an athlete, I probably would have been in a better position to stay healthy and be able to play a little bit longer within my career.

Jeff Perro (28:43)
So my next question for you, know, 2019, the way it went down with your knees and 2020, you're coaching college ball. Anything that you would have done different, anything that you wish you would have known in 2019 when your knee shut it down for you? Any different approach you wish you would taken to the life after baseball?

Steven Rodriguez (29:05)
You know what? You can always make adjustments. know, don't think regret is the way to look at it, but I think it's just the learning curve like anything else. You know, and sometimes you're a little bitter to the game because you weren't able to give it what you wanted to give it. So yeah, you know, else, you're a little upset to certain moments, to certain areas. And I sometimes you're a little upset about how things ended.

rather than appreciating the way that it went. And I think as I look back at it, I had a great career. I met a lot of great people. There's people that I still see to this day. Like I saw AJ Ellis recently when I took kids to go see the Padres

And I go see him and I've, know, and I told my kids, I'm like, look, like God bless this human being

here because that guy did more homework than anybody else. That guy knew exactly what I, what I needed to accomplish out of the mound. And it made my job easier to great success in the big leagues, you know? So those little things, you know, those, those, people that you meet along the way, you got to do something that nobody gets to do. You know, you get to play in the big leagues, you get to compete at the highest level and you get to do it with a bunch of people that are just all in it for the same reason.

You know, just wanting to play ball and being able to do something that you're good at and so you got to look at the positives and you know, it's like anything else. Sometimes you got negative because it's over But the reality is, you know, I couldn't have been more grateful for the opportunities that I got. It's just a career that I created, you know, at the end of the day, nobody can tell me that I wasn't.

one of the better relievers during my healthy years. those years would have made a push for a great career if I just would have stayed healthy. So that's why I'm back in the agent world, trying to guide players and make sure they take care of themselves on and off the field. And then, educate yourselves on how to invest your money, what you need to do to build yourself both on and off the field.

Jeff Perro (30:59)
I've talked to people who had short careers, long careers. So everybody kind of has a different answer to that question. But the one thing everybody does go back to is the people, the people that you meet. that's just the nail in the head for the best thing about baseball is the people that you meet and the connections you make and networking lifelong friends.

So tell me a little bit more about life as an agent.

Steven Rodriguez (31:22)
So I'm actually getting to a game now, which is great. have a 2027 arm that I'm... Well, absolutely, no, and that's completely fine. mean, at the end of the day, I'm just watching baseball, doing baseball. That's what we do around here, you know? now in the agent world, I'm guiding players as a whole, like right now, I'm gonna watch a pitcher just because it's...

Jeff Perro (31:27)
I appreciate you sticking with us while driving by the way.

Steven Rodriguez (31:45)
what I'm passionate about is that I'm teaching the I'm teaching them how to get on the agents side of things. Like I told you, it's basically the  guide, kind of a disturbing process that I may have not had the education that I could have. That for me is the goal. Now I get to share that and give that profit to these guys and make sure that they're growing within it.

Jeff Perro (32:06)
Now you get to share that.

Steven Rodriguez (32:15)
paying attention to within it. So that's what I'm doing now and I'm super passionate about it.

Jeff Perro (32:22)
Good,

good, I'm glad you found something you're passionate about. I'm glad you can translate your experiences in the baseball world into that. How long have you been doing that?

Steven Rodriguez (32:29)
Yeah, which is,

I've been at it for a year now. I got into it with my old agency, MVP Sports Group, and it's been a great experience, learning experience You have to learn the game, have to learn how everything works. But it's been super fun, so can't complain about it at all.

Jeff Perro (32:50)
I wish you all the success of that. So I'll go ahead and wrap up with you, I wish you a great rest of your evening, but I appreciate you talking to me.

Steven Rodriguez (32:53)
I appreciate it man.

I'm all good brother, I appreciate you man and thank you for the time and yeah if we ever want to chat up again we are definitely happy to do that.