Julio Rodriguez’s Strong Message After Huge Game Against Orioles Amid Cold Streak.
During a difficult stretch for the Seattle Mariners (48-41), who have lost 10 of their last 14 games, attention has been on Julio Rodriguez’s slump. The two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger is hitting just .244 with a .296 on-base percentage, .336 slugging percentage, and .632 OPS. However, both he and his team snapped out of their funk on Independence Day.
Seattle avoided a sweep at T-Mobile Park against the Baltimore Orioles (55-32) on Thursday, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit and scoring five runs in the seventh inning to secure a 7-3 victory. Rodriguez hit a 428-foot solo home run in the fifth inning and then ignited the seventh-inning rally with a lead-off double, a stolen base, and an emotional celebration. Before this game, Rodriguez had only three hits in his last 37 at-bats, making this performance a much-needed rebound.
Rather than lamenting his struggles, the 23-year-old center fielder is embracing the lessons learned during this challenging period.
“Sometimes, you’ve got to go through tough stretches to wake the hell up,” Rodriguez said, according to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. “If I start crying or complaining or beating myself up for what’s happened, I’m not going to take full advantage of the moment I have now. So that’s just what I went out there and did today… just going out there, and competing my [butt] off.”
The 2022 American League Rookie of the Year is looking forward as he and the Mariners aim to meet their high expectations for the 2024 season. This Fourth of July win might be the catalyst for the team to reach their top form.
Despite president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto making several roster changes this past offseason, many fans were still skeptical about Seattle’s offense. The lack of reliable hitters has placed a heavy burden on the starting pitching rotation to keep the Mariners in playoff contention. This uneven foundation was bound to crack eventually, but Julio Rodriguez is expected to minimize the damage.
Rodriguez has been a significant part of the Mariners’ offensive woes, allowing the Houston Astros to pull within two games of first place in the AL West. The pressure on him to consistently perform is substantial, as the organization has not provided sufficient quality contributors around him. If Rodriguez struggles, Seattle likely does as well.
Superstars can alter a franchise’s trajectory, but they alone cannot lead a team to October, as evidenced by the Los Angeles Angels in the past decade. A productive Rodriguez, however, could be the difference between a significant playoff run or another disappointing end to the regular season.
The Mariners and their fans have waited too long to miss the opportunity to win a divisional crown, which would be their first in 23 years. Julio Rodriguez knows what is at stake and has the ability and intangibles to regain his form, just as he did in the second half of last season.
Is this performance against the Orioles his true awakening? Or are there a few more struggles before this young star fully erupts in 2024?