number22custom1R/Rweight205positionOFhighschoolWyoming H.S.first_nameJoeyyearSeniorhometownCincinnati, Ohioheight6-2last_nameRodgersGeneral: Experienced senior who appears slated to again start in center field...sports excellent range and a good arm...ranks as one of Furman's fastest players...has registered starting duty at shortstop, second base, third base, and all three outfield positions during his career...looking for improved offensive production this spring...excellent bunter...will likely bat leadoff or ninth in the lineup. 2007 -- Took over the starting job in center field for the graduated Andrew Greene...got the nod in 50 of the Paladins' 55 games...struggled at the plate, hitting only .230 but delivered excellent glove work, committing only one error in 133 chances (.992 fielding percentage)...led Furman in steals (13x18) and topped the team in sacrifice bunts (14) -- the second highest total in program history...went 13x38 (.342) over the first nine games...slipped to .198 (27x136) the rest of the way...went 4-for-6 with a pair of RBI in a 12-5 win over Davidson...doubled and tripled as part of a 2-for-3, 3-RBI performance in an 12-10 extra inning win over College of Charleston...drove in a pair of runs in the Paladins' 7-3 regular season ending win over The Citadel. 2006 -- Served as a utility player for much of the season, seeing action in 37 games and earning 13 starts covering six positions...most starts (5) came in left field...hit only .210 overall (13x62) with three home runs and eight RBI but hit at a .400 clip (8x20) against SoCon competition...went 5-for-8 (.625) over his final five games, including a 2-for-4, two-run performance in the Paladins' season ending, 5-4 loss to UNC Greensboro in SoCon Tournament action...outing versus UNCG included a solo home run...went 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI in a 10-6 series clinching victory at Western Carolina...belted a two-run home run in an 18-5 victory over Wofford...doubled, homered, and scored two runs in four at bats against Miami of Ohio (8-5 win)..successful on 8-of-10 stolen base attempts. 2005 -- Started in 17 contests at shortstop before yielding to veteran A.J. Davidiuk...earned four starts at second base...frequently employed in pinch running roles...struggled with the glove, committing 13 errors and fielding at a .877 clip...batted .233 (17x73)...was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases...went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI and two runs scored in a 12-0 rout of Western Carolina...notched a 3-for-5 outing, scored two runs, and swiped a base in a 13-6 win over High Point...stole two bases and scored three runs in Furman's critical three-game regular season sweep at Davidson, which propelled the Paladins into the SoCon Tournament and eventual title.High School: 2004 graduate of Wyoming (Division II) High School...baseball coach was Doc Wielan...played shortstop...established school career records for batting average (.470), RBI (86), grand slams (2), slugging percentage (.780), and doubles (30) in helping Wyoming to three straight Cincinnati Hills League championships...also stole 50 bases in his career...served as team captain, batted a school record .556, and recorded a slugging percentage of .987 in 2004 and become first student-athlete in school history to play on league championship teams in baseball, basketball, and football in a single academic year...team also captured sectional championship and Mid-City Classic crown in 2004 -- the latter for a third consecutive year...was named Cincinnati Hills League Player-of-the-Year, All-Greater Cincinnati, and All-Southwest Ohio...recipient of Wyoming's Gene Pittman Award (Outstanding Student-Athlete).Personal: Full name is Joseph Paul Rodgers...son of Jeff and Barb Rodgers...born on October 23, 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio...has a sister Katherine...has lived in South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong...health and exercise science major.