Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Drives in three more Thursday
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Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, three RBI and three runs in Thursday's Cactus League win over the Reds.
Rodriguez's perfect day at the plate was preceded by a two-double, three-RBI performance Wednesday against the Dodgers, meaning the ultra-talented outfielder has been virtually impossible to put away the last two games. A sophomore slump looks like the last thing fantasy managers will have to worry about with Rodriguez, who's now hitting .464 across 30 Cactus League plate appearances.
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Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Back from WBC on Saturday
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Rodriguez slotted back into the Mariners lineup Saturday after Team Dominican Republic was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, leading off and going 1-for-3 in a Cactus League loss to the Guardians.
The second-year phenom's Cactus League average sits at .368, and he turned in a solid showing in the WBC with a .278 average (5-for-18) with a double, three RBI, a walk and two runs in four games. Rodriguez will now turn his focus back to preparing for the 2023 campaign and appears to already have his timing down at the plate based on his complete body of work to date.
Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Already swinging hot bat
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Rodriguez is hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a solo home run and a walk through his first four Cactus League games.
The reigning AL Rookie of the Year appears poised to avoid a sophomore slump if early returns are any indication. Rodriguez has hit safely in each of his first four exhibitions, and his first round tripper of spring Wednesday against the Cubs seems to corroborate he's suffering no aftereffects from the collision with the outfield wall he sustained in Monday's game against the White Sox.
Rodriguez said that he was completely fine after colliding with the outfield wall during Monday's Cactus League game against the White Sox, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Rodriguez got jammed up against the wall while attempting to rob a homer on Monday, and while he stayed in the game initially, he was subbed out in favor of Cade Marlowe an inning later. The 21-year-old stated that he jammed his right arm and got the wind knocked out of him, but no injury was suffered. Rodriguez is one of the most exciting young talents in baseball, and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief that his exit was just precautionary.
Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Could run more this season
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Rodriguez could run more this season, Mariners manager Scott Servais told Corey Brock of The Athletic on Friday.
Just four of Rodriguez's 25 stolen bases in his rookie season came after the All-Star break. Part of that was health related, as he dealt with wrist and back issues, and part was pitchers simply paying more attention to him. However, Servais noted Friday that stealing bases is "a big part of [Rodriguez's] game." J-Rod also figures to be one of countless players to benefit from the league's new pickoff throw limits and bigger bases.
Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Brings home AL Rookie of the Year
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Rodriguez (finger) was named the 2022 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year on Monday.
This announcement comes as no surprise to anyone who watched Rodriguez dominate throughout the 2022 season. He finished with 29 first-place votes and one second-place vote, as Adley Rutschman was the only other rookie to receive a first-place vote. Rodriguez slashed .284/.345/.509 with 28 home runs, 75 RBI, 25 stolen bases (in 32 chances) and 84 runs scored in 132 contests. During a call with media Monday, Rodriguez noted that his finger is feeling better and he began workouts three days ago, per Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM.
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Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Dealing with fractured fingertip
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GM Jerry Dipoto revealed Wednesday that Rodriguez finished the season playing through a fractured fingertip, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
The rookie outfielder spent time on the 10-day injured list down the stretch with a lower-back sprain, and he apparently also picked up the finger injury at some point. The issue isn't a serious concern, and he should be ready for the start of spring training in February. Rodriguez is the favorite to be named AL Rookie of the Year after he posted a .284/.345/.509 slash line with 28 home runs, 75 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 132 games during 2022.
