The Seattle Mariners have a good one in rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez, who just can't stop shining at the plate, in the outfield, and on the basepaths. In fact, Rodriguez has already been selected for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game as a reward for the memorable campaign that the 21-year-old centerfielder is having.
It's been a while since the Mariners have this kind of excitement on a position player, and Rodriguez is certainly living up to the hype and promise he's carried on his shoulders way before he even made his first plate appearance in the majors.
And just before the 2022 MLB All-Star break, Rodriguez gave another reason for Mariners fans to believe that he is going to be one of the faces of the league in the future.
Via ESPN Stats & Info:
With the help of Friday's grand slam, Julio Rodríguez is the first 1st-year player ever with 50 RBI and 20 SB before the All-Star Break. He is the 2nd Mariners player with 50 RBI and 20 SB before the All-Star break (1998 Alex Rodriguez).
The Mariners have two more games remaining before the end of the first half of the 2022 MLB regular season, but baseball fans have seen enough from Julio Rodriguez to envision him as a superstar in the making. After Friday's 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers at home, Julio Rodriguez is now slashing .275/.335/.479 with 16 home runs and 21 stolen bases — third-most in the majors, to date.
Julio Rodriguez is definitely instrumental as well in the Mariners' surge of late, with the team winning 10 games in a row. If he keeps that up, the Mariners might just find themselves in the 2022 MLB postseason.