In the Seattle Mariners' 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday, star slugger Julio Rodriguez found himself in a new spot, batting sixth in the lineup after spending most of the season – and his career – in the top two spots in the batting order.
Rodriguez spoke about the change with Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times.
“I feel like I’m having a lot of good at-bats and seeing a lot of pitches and I’m picking my spots better,” he said. “But they are pitching really well against me. That’s great for them. But I’m going to keep working and keep helping the team win in whatever way it is.”
“I feel good,” he said. “I feel healthy. And if the results are not there, I’m not going to get scared. I’m going to keep working at it and keep trying to get better and keep helping this team win.”
While many would take the change as a demotion, the Mariners star is instead focusing on the positives.
“I feel like every time that you hit like a little bit lower in the lineup you are able to see all the guys, who the (pitcher) is working and stuff like that,” Rodriguez said.
In 51 games this season, Julio Rodriguez has slashed .257/.306/.312 with five doubles, two homers, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, 12 walks and 62 strikeouts in 216 plate appearances for the Mariners.
Hopefully for Rodriguez and the Mariners, the change helps him get going.
Mariners trade for bullpen help
Mike Baumann was acquired from the Orioles late Wednesday evening along with minor league catcher Michael Perez in exchange for minor league catcher Blake Hunt.
Baumann had been designated for assignment on Saturday by Baltimore after pitching against the Mariners the night before at Camden Yards.
He made 17 relief appearances this season with Baltimore, going 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA. The 2017 third-round draft pick spent parts of four seasons with the Orioles, compiling a 13-5 record with a 4.45 ERA.
Despite lacking huge swing-and-miss tallies, Baumann should deepen the Mariners' middle relief group. The Jacksonville product has induced ground-balls at a solid 46.4% clip. He averages north of 96 MPH on his fastball and mixes in a knuckle-curve and slider with frequency. Baumann has between one and two years of major league service. Seattle can control him for four seasons beyond the current campaign and he won’t be eligible for arbitration until the 2025-26 offseason.
The Mariners send minor league catcher Hunt back to Baltimore in the deal. The former Competitive Balance Round B selection out of Mater Dei (CA) High School by the San Diego Padres in 2017 was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a five-player trade that sent Blake Snell to the Padres on Dec. 29, 2020, before being traded to the Mariners for catcher Tatem Levins on November 6, 2023.
Hunt has yet to appear in a Major League game and is ranked as the No. 23 Mariners prospect by MLB Pipeline.
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