Arizona high school Mason Rudolph readied for a pro baseball career in June 1988. Rival coach Ron Davini, a former pro player himself, saw Rudolph doing well, according to The Arizona Republic.
"It's surprising," Davini told The Republic. "For a kid who hasn't caught that much at all, he is fundamentally sound. I really like him. He doesn't have that great quick release yet, but he'll get it. He's got a heck of a strong arm, though. And his hitting? Well, you know what he did this season."
Rudolph went on from Mesa's Dobson High School to a pro career spanning eight seasons. He played catcher throughout. He briefly made AAA, but not the majors.
Rudolph's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Mets in the 17th round of the draft out of Dobson. Rudolph is the son of former major leaguer Ken Rudolph, according to The Republic.
Rudolph started with the Mets in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 31 games and hit .170. He then moved between the GCL and rookie Kingsport for 1989 and Kingsport and short-season Pittsfield for 1990.
Rudolph played at single-A Columbia for 1991. He hit .228 in 64 games. He then moved to high-A St. Lucie for 1992. He hit a grand slam in a July game there. He then picked up three hits in an August game. He hit .263 overall in 48 games that year.
He played 22 more games at St. Lucie in 1994, rounding out his Mets career. He then played a season with independent St. Paul in 1994, seeing 40 games. He ended his career in 1995, with 43 games in the Marlins system, including two at AAA Portland.
"It's surprising," Davini told The Republic. "For a kid who hasn't caught that much at all, he is fundamentally sound. I really like him. He doesn't have that great quick release yet, but he'll get it. He's got a heck of a strong arm, though. And his hitting? Well, you know what he did this season."
Rudolph went on from Mesa's Dobson High School to a pro career spanning eight seasons. He played catcher throughout. He briefly made AAA, but not the majors.
Rudolph's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Mets in the 17th round of the draft out of Dobson. Rudolph is the son of former major leaguer Ken Rudolph, according to The Republic.
Rudolph started with the Mets in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 31 games and hit .170. He then moved between the GCL and rookie Kingsport for 1989 and Kingsport and short-season Pittsfield for 1990.
Rudolph played at single-A Columbia for 1991. He hit .228 in 64 games. He then moved to high-A St. Lucie for 1992. He hit a grand slam in a July game there. He then picked up three hits in an August game. He hit .263 overall in 48 games that year.
He played 22 more games at St. Lucie in 1994, rounding out his Mets career. He then played a season with independent St. Paul in 1994, seeing 40 games. He ended his career in 1995, with 43 games in the Marlins system, including two at AAA Portland.
Originally published March 14, 2017
- Arizona Republic, June 22, 1988:Dobson's surprise a big-league catch
More: The 1990 Kingsport Mets
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