Rockies' Rodgers racks up 4 hits, HR in pro debut

Brendan Rodgers is already showing why the Rockies took him with the No. 3 overall pick in this month's Draft.

Thursday night, the shortstop from Lake Mary High (Fla.) made his debut a special one, going 4-for-6 with a single for his first pro hit, a double, a home run and an infield single in his final at-bat. Rodgers also crossed the plate three times for Rookie-level Grand Junction in the team's 15-11 loss to the Orem Owlz. Grand Junction set a franchise record with 20 hits in the loss.

"I was just in shock, like, wow, just to get my first hit, and then, two at-bats later, getting my first hit and my first professional home run in one game," the 18-year-old told MiLB.com. "It was unbelievable. I'm still shaking."

Watch Rodgers go deep in his pro debut

Rodgers signed a $5.5 million bonus over a week ago and joined the Grand Junction team last Thursday but didn't make his debut until a week later.

"It was actually good to learn the pro ball game and pro ball way, to see the right way and the wrong way to do things on and off the field as a pro," Rodgers told MiLB.com. "It was really good to get to watch six games and have a good debut."

Watch Rodgers collect a base hit in his first professional at-bat

Rodgers was the autobiographical subject of an MLB.com Draft diary this spring, and was elated after the Rockies made him their first-round selection two weeks ago.

"I just want to say: I'm not going to let you down," Rodgers wrote to fans. "I'm going to do my best to make you proud. I'll continue to work hard and give it my all."

He's off to a good start.