MLB Draft 2013: Catcher Jake Rodriguez On Display In The College World Series

The Astros selected Oregon State catcher Jake Rodriguez In the 19th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. This season for Oregon Rodriguez has a .278 batting average, a .388 on-base percentage and a .367 slugging percentage. Those numbers don't exactly inspire me to think of Rodriguez as a major league baseball player, however, his offensive numbers aren't what got him drafted, his defense did:

That's Rodriguez making a spectacular play on a foul bunt in the College World Series. Oregon State would eventually lose the game to Mississippi State 5-4 and now head to the losers bracket to try and salvage their postseason aspirations. Aside from the great catch he also receives the ball well behind home plate, which was probably the biggest factor in the Astros selecting him with their 19th round pick.

Prior to the start of the Oregon State vs. Mississippi State game, ESPN ran a segment on Jake. On June 10, 2012, Rodriguez got a message no one ever wants to receive. Tony Rodriguez, Jake's father, died at the age of 43 from a blood clot that had passed from his thigh and into his lung. A year later to the day his Oregon State Beavers won the game that put them into the current College World Series.

This weekend we're celebrating Father's Day, which is a joyous occasion, but lets not forget that there are those who have lost father's or never knew them and what this day may or may not mean to them.