A ninth round selection of the Tigers in 2003, Eric Rodland spent the past year with the Lakeland Tigers of the Florida State League, a full season High-A league.
In 72 games, the second baseman hit .278 with 12 doubles, five homers and 28 RBI’s. He played every position on the infield in 2005 and committed just four errors – playing a super utility role.
He recorded 16 multi-hit games and six three-plus hit games on the year and was hitting .311 when July came to a close but a .190 average in August dropped his average significantly.
“You have to like a guy who can multiple positions on the infield but one who is 25, not out of A-Ball, and wasn’t even the starter seems off to me,” an NL Scout said. “And the Angels take him? I have seen some crazy things before – I guess I haven’t seen everything.”
The left-hand hitting former Gonzaga star had a breakout year in the New York Penn League in his first year in the Tigers system, hitting .328. Last year he knocked in 50 in the Midwest league with 26 doubles, six triples and four homers.