Brock Rodden reminds coach Eric Wedge of the prototypical Shocker infielders of the past – a Mark Standiford, a P.J. Forbes – those who excelled with an intensity and hustle that amplifies their physical tools.
"I love the way he plays the game," Wedge said. "He's in the dirt with every pitch, whether it be at home plate or in the field. He's hard-nosed. He epitomizes what Shockers are."
Rodden, a sophomore second baseman, is giving Wedge lots of reasons to enjoy his work at the plate this season. He went 3 for 4 with a home run in Sunday's 13-7 win over New Mexico at Eck Stadium to cap a 12-for-25 stretch that raised his batting average to .