Watch CBS News

Sean Rodriguez: Jung Ho Kang Should Exceed Expectations Again

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Fresh off of signing a new one-year contract to keep him in Pittsburgh, Pirates utility man Sean Rodriguez joined "The Fan Morning Show" to talk about what lies ahead for his teammates and him in 2016.

Rodriguez said that he's expecting to play all over the field next season.

"I spoke to Clint [Hurdle], and he told me they obviously wanted to bounce me around, which was the role they had envisioned seeing me in when they first signed me," Rodriguez said. "Obviously, with them signing Jung Ho [Kang], that role changed as the year got started, but yeah, basically that's what they told me they wanted me to do this year. They wanted me to be able to actually bounce around the way they wanted to use me, and however that may be, I mean, Clint and them said that that's going to bring a little bit more opportunity, so I'm obviously excited about that."

While he can play just about anywhere, Rodriguez said that he feels most comfortable playing middle infield.

"[My] favorite position is shortstop," Rodriguez said. "I still honestly feel I play short and second better than any other position."

Rodriguez also spoke at length about Kang, who made a big impact in his rookie season last year and will be hoping to do the same once he returns from a major knee injury.

Kang's breakout debut campaign surprised Rodriguez a little bit, but he hardly considers it inexplicable.

"Absolutely, but at the same time, it didn't," Rodriguez said. "Just because he [was] playing over in Korea, and baseball's baseball - and it's funny, because that's actually a term he would use, throw around a lot. And I'd laugh at him, just basically because it's just such a simple phrase, it's so true. Baseball's baseball, no matter where you're playing it."

Rodriguez said that he did his best to help Kang settle in last season.

"I sat with him and his translator a lot, basically just talking a little bit, trying to see if I couldn't feed him as much as I knew," Rodriguez said. "...trying to help him out as much as possible. But, you guys saw, he's definitely more advanced than a lot of people would have expected."

With that in mind, Rodriguez cautioned against underestimating Kang again.

"Once he is healthy, he's probably going to be a bigger impact than a lot of people might either project... that's just me having been around the game a little bit, and having been around him a lot," Rodriguez said.

The interview can be heard here:

Like The Fan On Facebook
Follow The Fan On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.