01/29/2012
Far From Average and Very Distinctive
By: Quamori Goodwin
Giovanni Rodriguez is one who stands out in the field and in the classroom. Rodriguez is a 6’0 senior at George Washington Carver High School, where he is in the IMST (Integrated Math Science Technology) Program. He values family, friends and education. His friends would call him the outsider, which coincides with his baseball position in the outfield. Striving to be a star, he is a student athlete who has dreams of becoming a physical therapist.
He started playing baseball at the age of 7. Before his time, his uncles and older cousins played. When he was younger, his father told him that he was the active one out of him and his older brother. His brother was never into playing. His first time ever playing on a team, he played for the Braves at Rigdon Park in Columbus, Georgia. Rodriguez was the youngest member of his team. Playing baseball came natural for Giovanni Rodriguez. He usually takes his time to adjust but with this he didn’t.
Rodriguez has made his way up in the area of baseball since his freshman year. He started with the positions of being in right field and left field. He is flexible for lots of positions and he has strengths that are in different areas as far as speed and hitting are included. During Rodriguez’s sophomore year, he played right field, left field and earned his spot as a center field toward the end of the season. By the end of the season, he also earned a leadership position as Outfield Controller. As a sophomore, that is an accomplishment. His junior year consisted of just center field. Rodriguez was named captain of the team. Rodriguez’s parents, Jose and Damaris Rodriguez, are proud of how far he has come in baseball. As a senior on the team, much is expected of him. He plans to win more games and have a successful season.
When asked, what do you listen to before a game?, Rodriguez responded,” I don’t listen to music before a game because I feel that if I’m not motivated already before a game, I’m not ready, but I’m always ready so I don’t need motivation.” Most athletes use music to help their mindset prepare so that they cannot think about anything else. Rodriguez thinks that his method is one of the best. He always gives one hundred percent at every practice and game. He says “The hard work at practice makes the game much easier.” When talking to the players about their performance, they focus on the points that were performed poorly and how they can improve.
Rodriguez has plans of attending college but he has no specific preference. Rodriguez says “I want to go but I just want to play baseball at whatever school I attend.” He has the urge to go but as long as there is a baseball team, you can count him in.
