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An Angels cap and glove before the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Angels Prospect Wins Prestigious Award

Originally posted on Los Angeles Angels on SI
By J.P. Hoornstra | Last updated May 6, 2025 12:30 PM ET

The Angels routinely rank among the poorest farm systems in Major League Baseball, though their front office tends not to measure a prospect's potential by external rankings.

In the case of Raudi Rodriguez, that's a good thing. A former 19th-round draft pick out of a Georgia high school, Rodriguez is not listed among the Top 30 prospects in the organization by MLB Pipeline.

Hot at the plate
Congratulations to Raudi Rodriguez for being named Player of the Month for April! pic.twitter.com/X2FHJh9cRu
— Inland Empire 66ers (@66ersBaseball) May 5, 2025

Nonetheless, Rodriguez earned a prestigious honor Monday, when he was named California League Player of the Month.

The transition from short-season baseball to the full-season Class-A level is not an easy one for many prospects to make. Rodriguez, 21, spent each of the last two seasons with the Angels' Arizona Complex League affiliate. He played 12 games in 2023 and 29 games in 2024, slashing .274/.361/.355.

Raudi Rodriguez hit .329 (25/76) with two doubles, seven triples, one HR, 22 RBI, six stolen bases and a 1.008 OPS in 21 April games for the 66ers to earn California League Player of the Month honors https://t.co/LCXP48GTgT
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) May 5, 2025

Already in 2025 he's played 25 games for the Inland Empire 66ers. In 89 at-bats, he's slashing .292/.396/.506 with seven triples and six steals in six attempts. His 1.008 OPS in 21 April games was enough to win the monthly award from among 100 players with at least 25 plate appearances in the league this season.

Rodriguez's back story is an interesting one. Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States and attended high school in Statesboro, Georgia, making him eligible for the 2023 draft.

The surprise prospect is Raudi Rodriguez who looks like he hits everything hard with a 329/429/579 slash line and a 14% walk percentage and is in 2nd in the California leauge in RBI with 22 and has 25 hits @66ersBaseball @RaudiRodriguez1 #milb pic.twitter.com/Gyy6eHy8fm
— Billy McMahan (@Billy_MiLBvideo) May 1, 2025

Rodriguez's patience at the plate helped him reach base in all but one of his first 18 games of the season with Inland Empire.

Since I'm normally not as nice to non-Neto @Angels prospects, Raudi Rodriguez has quietly been showing signs of a breakout in A ball. The former @premier_sox OF has 7 3B in 19 G, slashing .357/.439/.629 showing legit speed, an improved approach and an all-fields, line drive… https://t.co/06APhpPER5
— Alex “Juicy” Jensen (@jensen_juicy) April 28, 2025

Lauded as a plus defender at all three outfield positions, Rodriguez was scouted by Chris McAlpin, the Angels' area scout for Georgia, prior to being selected in the draft.

Raudi Rodriguez with a 3-run triple for Single-A Inland Empire.

His SIXTH triple of the season! pic.twitter.com/hiUTiSDHsB
— AngelsMiLB (@AngelsMiLB) April 23, 2025

In one pre-draft workout, Rodriguez was clocked throwing the ball 95 mph from center field.

Despite previously being committed to play for the University of South Carolina, Rodriguez signed with the Angels straight out of Georgia Premier Academy after the draft.

Raudi Rodriguez (GA) up to 95 from the OF. #PgNational pic.twitter.com/tBF3LAJSwk
— PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) July 21, 2022

Rodriguez was previously honored as the California League Player of the Week for the week of April 7-13.

Another Angels prospect, first baseman Ryan Nicholson, was named Northwest League Player of the Month on Monday. The Angels' 10th-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Kentucky, Nicholson is slashing .318/.459/.553 through his first 25 games with the Angels' advanced Class-A affiliate.

Congrats to @66ersBaseball OF Raudi Rodriguez on being named @MiLB California League Player of the Month for April. Also, congratulations to former Sixer Ryan Nicholson for being named Northwest League Player of the Month. #Angels
— Steve Wendt (@steve_wendt) May 5, 2025

Nicholson appeared in 30 games last year with Class-A Inland Empire, slashing .292/.403/.504 before earning the promotion to begin the 2025 season. He could very well be calling Rodriguez a Tri-City Dust Devils teammate before long.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Angels on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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