SEATTLE (AP) — Less than a block from T-Mobile Park, the picture of Julio Rodríguez plasters the facet of a warehouse. The mural is an ode to the Emerald City’s younger baseball star — one the Seattle Mariners plan to have in middle discipline for the following decade.
At solely 22, he’s already the face of the franchise, the one whose No. 44 jersey floods the stands nightly, each dwelling and street. He’s carrying the expectations as the following generational participant watching over that sacred place of middle discipline in Seattle.
This All-Star week in Seattle was speculated to be Rodríguez’s social gathering. The “J-Rod Show” at dwelling for the world to see on the All-Star stage.
And it nonetheless may be, even with a season that so far hasn’t matched these expectations, for Rodríguez or the group.
Already dedicated to competing within the Home Run Derby, Rodríguez was an damage substitute on the American League roster after accidents to outfielders Yordan Alvarez and Mike Trout created a possibility for Rodríguez to be added.
But his season and that of the Mariners has not been what was anticipated coming off Rodríguez profitable AL rookie of the 12 months and Seattle snapping its 21-year playoff drought.
“It’s a learning curve. It’s a huge learning curve,” mentioned Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., the final generational middle fielder in Seattle. “But he’ll be alright.”
This season has been that studying curve for Rodríguez. It’s not a sophomore stoop. It’s not a disappointment. Rodríguez’s season has been very similar to the group he performs for — remarkably common. The Mariners are 45-44 on the break.
Is he deserving of being within the All-Star Game? A slash line of .249/.310/.411 with 13 dwelling runs and 49 RBIs on the break doesn’t precisely bounce off the web page. Even his personal followers in Seattle appeared to acknowledge Rodríguez’s first half lacked the thrill of a season in the past, and he didn’t crack the highest 10 in All-Star voting amongst outfielders.
But for a sport that wants participating personalities on its largest levels, having Rodríguez — together with his youthful exuberance and radiant smile — collaborating in the whole lot inside his dwelling ballpark this week is a win for the league.
“To be rewarded with the opportunity to be able to step on that field, and for all those fans in Seattle, for my family that’s going to be there, it’s definitely going to be a lot of fun,” Rodríguez mentioned.
Seattle’s meager group success traditionally has created an setting the place followers passionately latch on to particular person stars of the franchise. It occurred with Griffey, who had a sweet bar as a rookie and shortly grew to become the very best participant within the sport in his early 20s. It occurred with Félix Hernández, who debuted at 19 and was recognized by “King Felix” as top-of-the-line right-handers in baseball at 21.
There’s a weight that comes with being the entrance door of a corporation at such a younger age. In simply his second season, Rodríguez has a number of nationwide endorsements and even his personal cereal, on prime of seemingly all the time being the primary picture when the Mariners are talked about.
“There’s always going to be expectation. Julio probably gets more because he plays every day. I used to go out there every five days,” Hernández mentioned. “He’s doing a great job. He’s a great kid and lots of talent.”
When Rodríguez took off in 2022, so did the Mariners, with their middle fielder the sparkplug to a lot of the great that occurred for Seattle. While baseball knew Rodríguez, his nationwide introduction got here in the course of the All-Star Game a season in the past and particularly the Home Run Derby, when he hit 81 homers throughout the three rounds earlier than shedding to Juan Soto within the closing.
“It was unbelievable. It definitely felt like a dream, honestly,” Rodríguez mentioned of final 12 months’s All-Star expertise. “Just stepping on the field and seeing everybody out there, a lot of the players I grew up watching and just sharing the clubhouse with them and being able to learn from them.”
Along together with his participation within the All-Star occasions, Rodríguez can be an “ambassador” for this week’s festivities, together with Griffey, Hernández and Edgar Martinez.
Two are within the National Baseball Hall of Fame with statues on the primary and third base sides outdoors T-Mobile Park. Hernández will go into the Mariners Hall of Fame later this summer time, recognizing his place as one of many prime pitchers in baseball for a decade throughout a time when Seattle was a principally forgettable ball membership.
Will Rodríguez attain that stage? Time, manufacturing and success would be the final decide. But it’s one other weight added to an already heavy load for a 22-year-old.
“The only advice I would give Julio is just to, ‘Hey, have time for you,’” Griffey mentioned. “Enjoy what you’re doing, but have time for you.”
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