(PRINCESS ANNE, MD)-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks Department of Athletics has selected Former Delmarva Shorebirds Coach, Bobby Rodriguez as their new Head Baseball Coach.
Rodriguez brings with him a wealth of baseball knowledge and experience. Most recently he served as field coach
for the Baltimore Orioles’ Class A Affiliate Delmarva Shorebirds from 1997 to 2002. His duties there included
work with outfielders, third base coach, and as the hitting instructor. He won the South Atlantic League
Championship in 1997, the first half title in 1998, the title in 2000, and the second half title in 2002. They also made
playoff runs in four of his six seasons.
Rodriguez is not just a successful coach but was a successful player in his day. In 1976 he was a high school All-
American and was later signed to play in the Mexican AAA League. His first at bat came just over 27 years ago
when he led off on July 4th with a double in his first professional at bat. Just one year later he won the Mexican
League Championship with the Nuevo Laredo Owls. That year he was the lead off batter and hit .336. Three years
later he owned Mexican League Pitching Staffs hitting .404. He has the silver bat at home to show proof of his
Mexican League Batting Title.
One year later in 1981 Rodriguez won another Mexican League Championship with the Mexico City Reds where he
led off hitting .372. He was also the top Mexican Native Hitter in 1978, 1979, and 1982 with .343, .363, and .372
averages respectively.
Coach Rodriguez has also had some great opportunities to coach and play with many famous players. He has
coached such pro players as Calvin Pickering, Ryan Minor, Eddie Garabito, Ed Rogers, Luis Matos, Larry Bigbie,
Bryan Roberts, Tim Raines Jr., Jayson Worth, Jerry Hairston Jr., Mike Bordick, Gabe Molina, Matt Riley, Ryan
Kholmier, Richard Baur, Tripper Johnson, Bryan Bass, Adam Manley, Sidney Ponson, Pat Hentgen, and Seaford,
DE native Delino DeShields.
He also played with Jerry Hairston Jr.’s, father and his late grandfather Sam Hairston while in the Mexican League.
Rodriguez’s experience also has allowed him to play with or against such legends as Fernando Valenzuela, Willie
Crawford, George Scott, Willie Davis, Bump Wills Jr., Louie Tiant, and Diego Segui.
“I am so excited about this opportunity,” said Rodriguez. “I have been on the shore for several years now and this
area is providing me the opportunity to build on what Coach [Kirkland] Hall has started here at UMES. We are
going to start a whole new tradition of Hawk Pride and make UMES a team to contend in the Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference,” he added. “We will do it the ‘Hawk Way,’ or no way at all,” concluded Rodriguez.
