Debuting earlier in the year, David Rohde had one of his best games yet, going 3-for-3 against the Mets in a 1-0 Astros victory."I'm just glad I got a chance to get a few hits," Rohde told UPI after the game, "and hopefully I can keep going."
It was among Rohde's best outings, not only on the year, but of his career. In 59 games that year, Rohde only got 15 more major league hits. He'd only get five more after that.
Rohde's professional career began in 1986, taken by the Astros in the fifth round of the draft out of the University of Arizona. At Arizona, he'd been a walk-on, but had early injury problems, The Los Angeles Times wrote.
Still, he helped the Wildcats to the 1986 College World Series Championship. Speaking to The Times after Rohde made the majors in 1990, his college coach credited Rohde with helping the team win, the scout that signed him, recounted the hard working kid that he signed.
"It's just something I've had to do," Rohde told The Times of working hard. "I would have loved to just plan on playing in the major leagues, but I took it one step at a time. It's what I've done all along. You make adjustments along the way. Know your abilities. . . . Know your limitations."
He played his first pro year at short-season Auburn, hitting .261 with 28 stolen bases. He moved to AA Columbus in 1988, hitting .267 with four home runs. A late Rohde RBI single helped Columbus to an early June win that year. He also took up switch-hitting that year.
Rohde got his first look at AAA in 1989, spending half the year at Tucson. He got his first look at Houston out of the gate in 1990.
"Rohde's one guy who did what he had to do," Bob Watson, the Astros' assistant GM told The Orlando Sentinel after Rohde made the team. "He applied himself and had a good spring."
In 59 games for Houston that year, though, Rohde hit just .184. He had five RBIs and no home runs. In 1991, Rohde returned to Houston, but was used sparsely. He got into 29 games and hit even worse, .122.
That June, Houston sent Rohde back to Tucson. Rohde didn't mind.
"I wasn't doing much of anything up there," Rohde told The Times. "When you're playing once every three weeks, it's not a real fun situation."
After that year, Rohde only had five major league games left, with the Indians in 1992. The Astros sent him to Cleveland with Kenny Lofton in exchange for Eddie Taubensee and Willie Blair.
He played the rest of 1992 at AAA Colorado Springs and moved to the Pirates system for 1993 and 1994 at AAA Buffalo. Rohde played one more year at AAA with the Astros and he was done. That June, he saw the end coming, he told The Times.
"Houston would have to show some genuine interest in me," Rohde told The Times. "I enjoy playing here and probably wouldn't play anywhere else. Moving your family around is not worth it when you cannot see future benefits. And I've got another 30 years of my life to get some other things done."
- Orlando Sentinel, April 7, 1990: Rohde Makes Astros' Roster
- Ellensburg Daily Record, UPI, July 19, 1990: Astro's Scott outduels Viola
- Los Angeles Times, Aug. 8, 1990: After Taking Long Trip to Majors, Rohde Takes It a Game at a Time
- Los Angeles Times, Aug. 19, 1991: Minor League Notebook
- Los Angeles Times, June 13, 1995: Rohde Might Be Ready to Let the Sun Go Down on His Career
Players/Coaches Featured: 489
Made the Majors: 328 - 67%-X
Never Made the Majors:161-33%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 136
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 114
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