Helson Rodriguez

Helson Rodríguez Santiago
listed by many sources as Nelson only in reference to the 1992 Olympics

• Height 5' 10", Weight 194 lb.

• Born April 2, 1962
• Died October 21, 2009 in Yauco Puerto Rico

Olympics-Reference page

Biographical Information

Helson Rodriguez was an outfielder for the Puerto Rican national team for about a decade, including an appearance in the Olympics.

Rodriguez played for Puerto Rico in the 1983 Pan American Games. He was in the 1984 Amateur World Series, struggling as a backup RF-CF - he hit .156/.229/.156 with 10 strikeouts in 32 at-bats. He was with Puerto Rico for the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games. He appeared in the 1987 Pan American Games; in a 4-0, 11-inning loss to Team USA, he had a chance to win it in the 8th. He came up with the bases loaded and one out against Cris Carpenter but hit into a rally-killing double play. Puerto Rico won the Bronze Medal.

In the 1988 Baseball World Cup, the 26-year-old hit .300/.462/.650 as Puerto Rico's main DH. He had 7 runs and 6 RBI in seven games. He played in the 1989 Intercontinental Cup and Puerto Rico won the Bronze Medal. In the 1990 Baseball World Cup, the international veteran was again the Puerto Rican DH. He batted .371/.385/.714 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI in 9 contests. He tied for 4th in the event in dingers, trailing Cubans Orestes Kindelan, Omar Linares, Lourdes Gourriel Sr. and Antonio Pacheco. He played in the 1990 Goodwill Games and 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games; Puerto Rico won a Silver Medal in the latter event.

Rodriguez remained Puerto Rico's DH in the 1992 Olympics but had a horrid showing, going 3 for 20 with 9 strikeouts, one run and one RBI in six games. Discounting a game against host Spain, he was 1 for 16.

In 19 seasons in Puerto Rico's amateur league, he hit .346. He set the league record for RBI in a campaign with 59.

Sources

• Defunct IBAF site
• Notice of Rodriguez's death
• LA Times
• Bill Mallon