DETROIT -- Ronny Rodriguez was tweaking his stance in the batting cage a week ago when Detroit Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon dropped by to watch.
"McClendon said, 'You're looking good like that. Why don't you try it at the plate?'" Rodriguez remembered.
And with that comment, one of baseball's most distinctive batting stances was retired.
Rodriguez, the Tigers' 26-year-old utility infielder, has spent most of his career with a batting stance that begins with his arms nearly fully extended over his head, his bat held almost parallel to the ground.
Check out Ronny Rodriguez's unique batting stance in Tigers BP
The bizarre stance was just a starting point, of course, and Rodriguez eventually dropped his hands into the hitting zone as the pitcher began to throw.