Offseason Report Card and Prediction: Center Field
Your 2022 American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez.
Going into Spring Training in 2022 it seemed as if the Mariners’ roster was incomplete. They had acquired Jesse Winker and had corner outfield types like Jarred Kelenic and Mitch Haniger on the roster. It didn’t feel like they had anybody who could play center field.
It wasn’t a sure thing that Julio Rodríguez would be on the MLB roster, let alone manning centerfield for a playoff team. Just like everything else in his career, Rodríguez defied expectations.
The fact that he was able to play centerfield was incredibly impactful, especially with the lack of other options. The team had no other good options on the roster and would have had a massive logjam at the corner spots. Instead, Julio worked on his speed all offseason and stole the job in Spring Training.
Rodríguez took the centerfield job as well as a spot on the opening day roster. While the first few months were rocky, he stood tall and continued to work. He swatted his first big league homer on May 1 off one of the best pitchers in baseball and never looked back.
As the season went along he gained more confidence, and it seemed a sense of belief grew around him. The team started to win in June, and the 21 year old was right in the center of that. Seattle acquired offseason training partner Carlos Santana, who is like an older brother to Julio.
Shortly after Seattle went on a tear, winning 14 games in a row. The win streak allowed for my personal “Julio has arrived and he is different” moment against the Texas Rangers.
About a week later the kid went on the national stage to represent Seattle in the Home Run Derby as well as the All-Star Game. Needless to say, he put on an absolute clinic, announcing his presence to the rest of the country.
In August the Mariners were set to celebrate a franchise icon, inducting Ichiro Suzuki into the Mariner Hall of Fame. That Friday Jeff Passan of ESPN dropped a bomb on the baseball world, Seattle had reached an agreement with their young superstar to keep him in a Mariner uniform for the rest of his career.
The deal was announced Friday morning by Passan, making the weekend a celebration of past and present. His extension keeps him in Seattle for 14 years with a guarantee of 210 million dollars. On the high end he can earn well over 400 million for 17 years. In translation, there is a good chance Julio Rodriguez plays his entire career in Seattle.
As the playoff push moved on it was clear the Mariners were primed to snap the drought. There were, however, plenty of moments of doubt and fear. One of these came when the Atlanta Braves came to town.
The Mariners had lost 3 of 5 and had just come off a series loss to the Chicago White Sox, before splitting the first two games against the defending world champs. Rodríguez got things going early with a leadoff home run off starter Jake Odorizzi. As the game went along the Mariners continued to pile on, leading 6-2 going into the ninth inning.
Shaky performances by Diego Castillo and Paul Sewald blew the Mariners lead, finding themselves trailing 7-6 going into the bottom of the ninth. As Julio jogged off the field a smile filled his face. He knew what he was about to do.
The 21-year-old stepped to the plate against one of the best closers in baseball history, destroying a baseball off the scoreboard to tie the game. This home run set up the win of the year for the Mariners on a walk-off home run by Eugenio Suárez.
This moment solidified the Mariners as contenders, and they never looked back.
Julio Rodríguez legitimately put together one of the best rookie seasons we have ever seen. He put together a .284/.345/.509 slashline with 28 home runs and a remarkable 25 stolen bases.
He was nominated for a Silver Slugger in the outfield and surely will win the Rookie of the Year in November. It was a season to remember in Seattle, and the rookie was right in the middle of it.
In addition to his play on the field, this young star has captured the hearts of an entire city with his endearing personality. Anybody who has been in the Mariners’ clubhouse knows his personality lights up a room. Julio is incredibly sure of himself and what he is going to become. His confidence and swagger can carry a team, making others believe just because of his presence.
Seattle has a superstar in centerfield, and he is only going to get better.