Ellsworth Community College baseball alumni Melvin Rodriguez (2012) has achieved amazing success with Jackson State University, where he continues his baseball career. His impressive DI stats: currently ranked 1st in batting average (.446); 5th in hits (66); 8th in runs batted in (47); tied for 1st in sacrifice flies (8); 7th in toughest to strike out (1 strike out every 21.1 at bats); and 9th in runs batted in per game.
Along with Rodriguez's DI rankings he has received SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Co-Player of the Week in 2015, First Team All-SWAC in 2014, and 2015 Pre-Season Second Team All-Conference.
This season Jackson State went 4-1 with Rodriguez hitting .667 (12 hits in 18 at bats) with 2 home runs, 6 runs, 7 RBIs, and 0 strike-outs.
The team overcame a horrific accident during the 2014 season when its bus was destroyed in a fire on the way to a game. After the fire, the team bounced back to win the 2014 SWAC Tournament and qualify for a Regional Tournament just weeks later.
While he played with the ECC Panthers, Rodriguez was named ICCAC 2nd Team All-Region infielder in 2012. He is originally from Manati, Puerto Rico.