Discover the backstory of Adrian Rodriguez’s decision to like wearing his number 24 Jersey in Texas Baseball.
When Adrian Rodriguez steps onto the diamond, his swagger is unmistakable. His glove snaps like thunder, his swing cuts through the air with purpose, and his eye for the game rivals players twice his age. But perhaps nothing about the Texas freshman shortstop is as iconic—or as meaningful—as the number on the back of his jersey: 24.
To the casual fan, it’s just a number. But for Rodriguez, it’s a living tribute, a thread woven into the very fabric of his identity. It’s about family, legacy, heartbreak, and resilience. This is the untold story behind number 24—a story that speaks volumes about the man wearing it, and why it matters so deeply in the burnt orange and white.
Rodriguez didn’t choose 24 out of a hat or because it looked cool on a jersey. The origins trace back to the ballfields of Southern California, where a young Adrian idolized his older brother, Marco. Seven years his senior, Marco was the star of the family—the one with the golden glove, a smooth swing, and a leadership presence that made coaches lean in and teammates stand taller. Marco wore number 24 throughout his youth and high school baseball career, carving out a legacy that made him a hometown legend in Oxnard.
“Marco was everything I wanted to be,” Adrian recalls. “I still remember being that kid sitting in the bleachers, watching him dominate games. I’d wear his hand-me-downs to sleep, including his old No. 24 travel jersey. I wanted to be just like him.”
When Adrian finally got his shot to play organized baseball, there was no hesitation—he wanted number 24. To him, it wasn’t just a number; it was a torch being passed, a symbol of a bond forged through baseball, brotherhood, and dreams.
Adrian’s story took a sudden, heartbreaking turn during his sophomore year of high school. Just days before Marco was set to return home from serving overseas in the military, the family received the kind of news that shatters everything: Marco had been killed in a car accident in Germany while on leave.
The news devastated the Rodriguez family. For Adrian, the loss was paralyzing.
“I didn’t want to play anymore,” he said. “The field felt empty without him. It was like the game had been drained of its soul.”
But as grief took hold, so did something else—a quiet, unrelenting determination. With the encouragement of his parents, Adrian eventually returned to the game. He played that next season with tears in his eyes and number 24 on his back. It was his way of keeping Marco close, of making sure his brother’s memory never faded from the field where their dreams first bloomed.
That season, Adrian hit .411 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs. But the stat line only told part of the story. Every swing, every stolen base, every turned double play—it was all for Marco. “I wasn’t just playing for me anymore,” Adrian says. “I was playing for him.”
The University of Texas had long been on Rodriguez’s radar. As a lifelong student of the game, he knew the program’s history—legends like Huston Street, Roger Clemens, and Augie Garrido were fixtures in the Rodriguez household. When the Longhorns came calling with a scholarship offer his junior year, there was no hesitation.
“I told Coach Pierce, ‘If I come to Texas, I’m bringing 24 with me,’” Adrian recalls. “It’s not negotiable. It’s part of who I am.”
To his surprise, the coaching staff already knew the significance of the number. They’d done their homework, learning not just about Rodriguez’s on-field ability, but the story behind the number he wore. “It’s rare you meet a kid with that kind of emotional maturity,” Coach David Pierce said. “Adrian didn’t just want to be great. He wanted to honor something greater than himself.”
Rodriguez arrived in Austin in the fall of 2024, fresh off an All-American senior campaign that had scouts buzzing. Within weeks, he had won over his teammates with his work ethic, humility, and fire. Though just a freshman, he was already setting the tone in the locker room.
“Adrian’s one of those guys you follow,” senior catcher Dalton Payne said. “You see the number, you hear the story—and then you see how he plays? You realize real quick, that number’s sacred.”
Now halfway through his first season with the Longhorns, Rodriguez has emerged not just as a contributor but as a cornerstone of the team’s future. His defensive range at shortstop has drawn comparisons to MLB stars, and his bat is proving even more potent than expected. He’s already notched multiple game-winning hits, but it’s his leadership and poise that have truly separated him.
Behind every practice rep and every inning under the lights, number 24 continues to carry weight.
“Sometimes before a game, I’ll touch the back of my jersey and whisper, ‘Let’s go, Marco,’” Adrian admits. “It centers me. It reminds me why I’m here.”
The Texas fanbase has embraced Rodriguez’s story, often chanting “Twenty-Four! Twenty-Four!” after big plays. But Adrian never lets the attention get to his head. For him, it’s never been about recognition.
“This isn’t about being famous,” he says. “This is about fulfilling a promise. Marco never got to see me play at this level. But every time I step on the field, I feel like he’s with me.”
Beyond Marco, number 24 has taken on a broader meaning within the Texas program. Younger players gravitate toward Adrian, not just because of his talent, but because of the way he honors his brother with purpose. It’s not unusual for Rodriguez to lead optional workouts, stay late after practice, or pull freshmen aside for pep talks.
“He leads by example,” says assistant coach Sean Allen. “He plays the game the right way, and that number reminds everyone why we grind every day. It’s bigger than us.”
Rodriguez has even inspired teammates to find their own “why.” In a meeting early in the season, players were asked to share the reason they play. Adrian went first, explaining the significance of 24 and his brother’s legacy. What followed was a powerful two-hour session of players opening up about lost loved ones, struggles, and personal motivations.
“It changed the culture,” Coach Pierce said. “That one moment of vulnerability set the tone for the entire season.”
Adrian Rodriguez has no plans to change numbers—now or ever. Whether he stays in Austin for three years or four, whether he gets drafted or not, 24 will remain part of his identity.
“If I’m lucky enough to play professionally one day, I’m taking 24 with me,” he says. “And if I ever coach, you better believe I’ll be wearing 24 in the dugout.”
But more than any stat or accolade, Rodriguez hopes people remember why he wore the number in the first place.
“I want people to think of Marco,” he says, his voice steady but emotional. “Not because he died—but because he lived with honor, grit, and love. That’s what 24 means. That’s what I play for.”
In a sport that often revolves around analytics and performance metrics, Adrian Rodriguez’s story reminds us of the human side of baseball. It’s about love, loss, and the resilience to keep going. And thanks to number 24, the memory of Marco Rodriguez lives on in every inning, every pitch, and every heartbeat of Texas Baseball.
