This Monday, September 11, the Cuban Baseball Federation announced that Christian Leandro Rodríguez García reached an agreement in principle with the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon League to enter the franchise’s development program.
In 2023, a total of eight players saw action via the Cuban Federation Japan, while Omar Linares also served as coach for Chunichi. The athletes were Liván Moinelo and Alfredo Despaigne with the Soft Bank Hawks; Raidel Martínez, Pedro Pablo Revilla, Guillermo García and Frank Abel Álvarez with the Chunichi Dragons; and Yasel Pérez with Tokushima Indigo Socks, from the Shikoku Island League Plus.
Rodríguez was part of the Cuban U-23 team that finished tenth in the World Cup in 2022. The Villa Clara native was selected as the All-tournament shortstop, hitting .368 , with an extra-base double and two RBIs. On defense he made no errors in 31 attempts, made 17 assists and recorded four double plays.
☑️ Según informó el miembro de la Federación Cubana de Béisbol, Yovani Aragón, los atletas Carlos Alberto Monier Torres (SCU) y Christian Leandro Rodríguez García (VCL) tienen un principio de acuerdo con los Dragones de Chunichi 🇯🇵
📷 @yuhkiohboshi pic.twitter.com/xVSWFFeOI7
— Miguel Rodríguez Hernández (@MiguelRH98) September 11, 2023
How did you take the news of this interest from the Chunichi Dragons?
The news really that took me by surprise, I was at home when I received it and I couldn’t believe it, I was very happy.”
You were part of the Cuba team at the 2022 U-23 World Cup, that is precisely where the monitoring of Christian Rodríguez began. How much did this event contribute to you despite the poor collective result?
Yes, participating in the U-23 World Championship gave me a lot exposure, without a doubt, an event of that magnitude tends to do that, also being in the All Stars was excellent for my cause, because I had a good tournament personally. Collectively I think we could have done a little more, we improved as the tournament progressed.
This year you were with a Villa Clara. The team had its ups and downs, it was very young team with a very experienced manager. How do you think the health of Villa Clara baseball is and what does the future hold for the province with several talented young players waiting in the wings?
This year Villa Clara definitely had its ups and downs, we had many injuries and absences on the team and as you mentioned, it is a young team that is rebuilding, without a doubt, in the very near future the team will return to stellar planes, where the team has always been.
Once the contract is signed, you will join an organization that strongly advocates for Cuban talent. Are you ready for this new challenge in your career?
Yes, we are still waiting to sign the contract, but obviously we are ready for this new challenge and with the help above all of God everything will go well.
In Japan, as in Cuba, the population is very attached to baseball, the Japanese, above all, greatly respect Cuban talent and there is always that expectation to see who the new prospects they sign are. What is special about Christian Rodríguez to show in Japan?
Yes, I am aware of what baseball means to the population in Japan, I am going to play professional baseball for the first time, which undoubtedly requires adaptation, and I think that with God’s grace I can exhibit my talents in Nagoya. It will be a great challenge and above all an excellent opportunity to suddenly face professionals, I’ll surely start on the farm (Minor Leagues).
Where does Christian see himself in the future within Japanese baseball, what are your goals?
As you say, we will start in the minor leagues, the objective is to be able to adapt in time to that type of baseball and to the high level it has. In the future reaching the big club and contributing is objective and of course to stay at that level is going require a lot dedication.
There is always someone who is behind the good moments, the not so good ones, not everything is success in a baseball player’s career, who are those people to whom you owe who you are in baseball?
Without a doubt, if there are results in Christian’s career today, it is all due to my family. From the beginning, which was not easy at all, everyone always supported me, especially my grandmother. I thank them all, not only for the player that I am today, but for the person they I have become.