Rodney Green Jr. is one of the most exciting players in college baseball, boasting a notable combination of power and speed.
The talented California outfielder has displayed a quality skill set in his first two years of college baseball. He hit 14 home runs and stole 29 bases as a sophomore last year. His success garnered attention and led to him playing for the U.S. collegiate national team last summer. His skill set was on full display with Team USA, which included him cranking a grand slam against Japan.
“Hitting that grand slam was honestly the greatest feeling of all time,” Green said.
Green is a must-watch player with plenty of outside expectations this season. He figures to serve as a critical piece in Cal’s lineup alongside junior catcher Caleb Lomavita. Like Lomavita, Green is receiving significant attention in preparation for July’s MLB draft. Scouts project Green as a likely top-three-round pick, especially if he can refine his overall approach at the plate.
“It’s a blessing,” Green said. “The biggest thing for me is to stay level-headed. I need to keep working towards my goal, which is to be a big leaguer for 10-plus years. I’m pretty excited.”
Green has been a regular in Cal’s lineup since his freshman year. He posted a .293 batting average with 10 doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs in 140 at-bats in 2022. He built off his first season, batting .293 with 11 doubles, 14 home runs, 38 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 208 at-bats last year.
As of Feb. 29, Green is hitting .290 with four home runs, eight RBIs and four stolen bases in 31 at-bats in eight games as a junior.
Green is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-handed hitting center fielder with above-average raw power and quality speed, which he uses on the base pads and in the outfield. Offensively, Green uses an unorthodox setup at the plate, with a low handset and some slight movement in his swing. He drives the ball to all parts of the field.
Defensively, Green covers plenty of ground in center field due to his speed. He has average arm strength and has tightened up his route running during his time at Cal.
“Besides my combination of power and speed, I think my defense is a big strength of mine,” Green said. “I really enjoy tracking down baseballs. I’ve done it all my life. I really enjoy playing center field.”
In the offseason, Green worked on improving his plate discipline. He struck out over 30% of the time in his first two seasons at Cal. He had 51 strikeouts compared to 21 walks as a freshman and 77 strikeouts compared to 32 walks as a sophomore.
“I want to stay consistent at the plate, focus a little more in the box and some great things will happen,” Green said. “I just want to focus more pitch to pitch and not take pitches off. It comes down to my mindset.”
Green will play a prominent role in Cal’s success this season.
The Golden Bears posted a 24-28 record last year, marking their third straight season not qualifying for the postseason.
This spring, the Golden Bears, headlined by Green and Lomavita, believe they have the pieces and team chemistry to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. They are 7-1 to start this season.
“The biggest thing for us is to hold each other accountable,” Green said. “We want to make the postseason. We need to make the Pac-12 Tournament first. I think we are going to have a really good run this year. We need to hold each other accountable, stick together and follow our routines are the biggest things, and I think it’ll take us far.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
