On Wednesday, the Liga Arco Mexicana del Pacífico became the first professional baseball circuit in Mexico to suffer the death of one of its members due to the coronavirus pandemic, after the death of Leo Rodríguez Jr., 65, was announced.
Sultanes de Monterrey, a club where Leo Rodríguez was coach, reported the death on his website and social media.
“After finishing his professional career, Mr. Leo has always remained connected to our institution, performing as a base coach and bank coach in several stages, being part of the championship obtained in 2007 and living the current season of the ARCO Mexican Pacific League, where the campaign began and at the end of October he had to leave his post due to health problems arising from the difficult situation facing the global society, “the Mexican Pacific League said in a statement.
For his part, Miguel Ojeda, president of Deportivo al Diablos Rojos del México, a club in the Mexican Baseball League, in which the late Rodríguez was the first base coach in the 2019 season, also mourned his death.
Today this blessed disease has taken not only one of the greatest instructors of our Baseball, the son of a mentor of mine, my great friend Don Leo Rodriguez.
His whole family sends his sincere condolences wishing him a speedy resignation.
PRIP FRIEND !!!! pic.twitter.com/EQMrDSSwZW– Miguel Ojeda (@MiguelOjedaS) December 23, 2020
Originally from Torreón, Coahuila, Leo Rodríguez played seven seasons in the Mexican Baseball League between 1974 and 1980, all with the Sultanes. After retiring as a professional player, he took over as coach; in 2007 he was champion with Monterrey and directed Rieleros de Aguascalientes. He was also part of the coaching staff of Bravos de León and Diablos Rojos del México. Internationally, he was a coach in the Caribbean Series.
Rodríguez Jr. was the son of third baseman Leonardo Rodríguez Briones and the brother of former Major League Baseball player Carlos Rodríguez.