Here’s a baseball player we all love. High-performing, loyal, unassuming, and charismatic. Rodriguez has been swinging the bat since he was a kid, with that natural passion shared by many of his countrymen. And how! Born on January 13, 1985 on the South American continent, the catcher looks back on his experiences. In 22 seasons in France, Douglas has this record: 487 games played, 1,744 AB, 342 R, 645 H, 144 doubles, 35 triples, 23 HR. 360 RBI, 89 SB, .370 AVG, .426 OBP! FLD% .960. A player who has made his mark on French baseball history.
BTVF: Douglas, can you tell us who you are and where you come from?
Douglas: I’m 38 years old and play for the Paris Université Club. I come from Cua, the capital of the Urdaneta municipality in the state of Miranda, not far from Caracas in northern Venezuela.
BTVF: How did you discover baseball, and at what age did you start playing?
Douglas:
Since I was old enough to think for myself, baseball has always been part of my horizon, like for any Venezuelan. It’s a major sport in my home country. We start playing as kids in the streets, for example, with just a stick and a rag ball. We’re also introduced to « baseball 5 » with a rubber ball. But it was at the age of 14 that I actually started playing in a club. That club was called « Servio Lasseres, » and I played there as a teenager.
BTVF: What was your experience in baseball in your home country?
Douglas: In Venezuela, I started playing at 14 for my hometown of Urdaneta for a few seasons. At 16, I was lucky enough to join a baseball academy run by the Minnesota Twins organization in Carabobo, another state in Venezuela, where I gave it my all to have a chance to become a professional player. It was a key moment in my life when I first left the family nest.
BTVF: When and how did you arrive in France to play baseball?
Douglas: I arrived in France in 2007 thanks to Kelly Villalta, a compatriot who was playing for the Jimmer’s de Saint Lo in Normandy at the time. He put me in touch with the PUC. The Parisian club immediately recruited me. Since then, I’ve always stayed in France.
BTVF: You’ve been playing for the PUC since 2007. How have you experienced your multiple seasons with the Parisian club? Your best moments?
Douglas: I’ve always had good relationships with the PUC club. President Olivier Dubaut has always considered me a member of his family, and I’m very grateful to him. The PUC is indeed going through a difficult period. Historically speaking, it’s not a flourishing time for PUC baseball, despite the number of titles Paris has won. I’m a true passionate about the game itself, and I’ve had some great moments there. I can go back to the 2014 season when we played the final against the Templiers. The year 2015 also, when we played the European Cup in Paris and during which I won the title of best French hitter with a .435 average.
BTVF: You also played for the French Cubs and the Ducks from 2016 to 2017. Tell us about that.
Douglas: In 2016, I went to Chartres for the French Cubs because I was sensitive to their vision of the game, the offer they made me, and their sports project. Ultimately, things didn’t go as we hoped, and in 2017 I joined the Ducks, who also made me a great offer.
BTVF: You’ve played for the French national team. Tell us more about that adventure.
Douglas: Playing for the French national team was one of my best experiences as a baseball player. I still remember the day Boris Rothermundt offered me a spot on the roster to compete in the qualifying round for the World Baseball Classic. I couldn’t believe it. I saw myself again as a kid in the streets of Venezuela playing with my friends… Playing in that tournament in Panama is a unique experience I’ll never forget. I was also a key player in France’s victory over Spain with a 3-for-4 performance. I remember every inning as if it were yesterday.
Douglas: I have three French players in mind whom I admire for their abilities:
Máxime Lefèvre, Frédéric Hanvi, and Florián Peyrichou. In my opinion, they are the best players. They can be just as effective in defense as in offense, and that’s in many professional leagues.
BTVF: Today, the PUC is in a tough spot. You’re nearing the end of your career. Do you want to manage another season with another club? Do you have other projects?
Douglas: As many already know, I’m starting to be a bit « long in the tooth » for the catcher position. I’m feeling some discomfort in my knees. Catchers will understand! A little voice tells me I’d better hang up my « spikes, » while another encourages me to keep going! I’ll finish this season. We’ll meet with the club president and see what projects they have for 2024. From there, I’ll make a decision. Either stay at the PUC or continue elsewhere as a player or coach.
Interview by Vincent Picard
