U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS ROUNDUP : Pepperdine’s Rodriguez Continues to Impress

Pepperdine’s Steve Rodriguez has a lot of things going for him as he competes at Millington, Tenn., for a spot on the U.S. Olympic baseball team.

He can steal bases, hit, run and field his position. Rodriguez also has significant experience in international competition, something Coach Ron Fraser covets.

“As long as I continue to hit the ball, I’ll like my chances,” Rodriguez said. “I know I can play defense and play in Coach Fraser’s system. I just need to hit.”

Rodriguez had a double and an opposite-field triple in Team USA’s 12-3 victory over the Venezuela national team Saturday night, but neither ball was hit hard.

“I need to hit the ball better than that,” he said. “We’re going to face much better pitching than this.”

Rodriguez is a cinch to be on the 25-man roster when Fraser announces eight cuts this morning. The roster has to be trimmed to 20 by the time the U.S. team leaves for Barcelona.

UCLA first baseman Ryan McGuire, battling with Jason Giambi of Cal State Long Beach for a spot on the 25-man roster, entered the game in the seventh inning and doubled. He drew a walk in the eighth. Giambi started at first and had a single in two at-bats.