J-Rod eyes Opening Day roster spot in '22
Daniel Kramer
@DKramer_SEATTLE -- Julio Rodríguez is getting his most tangible taste of the big leagues this weekend, another reminder that the prized outfield prospect is knocking on the doorstep of the game¡¯s highest level.
In town to be recognized with the rest of the Mariners¡¯ Minor League year-end award winners, Rodr¨ªguez attended his first Mariners game at T-Mobile Park on Friday. And it was quite a scene for the towering 20-year-old to get acclimated to, watching Seattle¡¯s first sellout in 2 1/2 years as the Mariners fight in what he hopes will be the first of many pushes to the playoffs.
¡°I don¡¯t know how close it feels, but it feels good. ¡ This stadium being packed was surreal,¡± Rodr¨ªguez said. ¡°This is my first time coming to a Mariners game. I feel like it was the best thing I¡¯ve seen in my life. This is what I want. All game, I was imagining what it would be like to be out there. I was literally getting chills thinking about myself playing with these guys in front of 47,000 fans.¡±
The No. 1 prospect in the Mariners¡¯ farm system and No. 2 overall, per MLB Pipeline, Rodr¨ªguez received the Alvin Davis ¡°Mr. Mariner¡± Award, given annually to the Minor Leaguer who best exhibits exemplary play and leadership skills both on and off the field.
Rodr¨ªguez received a hearty ovation when he was introduced with Davis ahead of Saturday¡¯s game.
But by this time next year, J-Rod might not be eligible for a Minor League award.
Rodr¨ªguez, who will skip the Dominican Winter League, plans to exclusively train this winter in Tampa, Fla., and the Mariners¡¯ complex in Peoria, Ariz., which will lead him into Spring Training, where he intends to compete for an Opening Day job.
That might be out of reach, given that he¡¯s not yet reached Triple-A, but the fact that the Mariners at least toyed with the idea of bringing him up for their postseason push lends credence to the notion that he¡¯s as close as he¡¯s ever been.
¡°I'm going to go out there and compete, like I do all the time,¡± Rodr¨ªguez said. ¡°That's what I do. Even if they say I don¡¯t got a shot, I'm definitely going to go compete. That's what I do.¡±
Rodr¨ªguez, who looked like he¡¯d grown even taller than the 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame he¡¯s listed at, jumped from High-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas and hit a combined .347/.441/.560 with 13 homers and 47 RBIs over 74 games. He likely would¡¯ve posted higher power numbers had he not participated in the Tokyo Olympics, but he said that experience, from a competitive and national pride perspective, was unparalleled.
Rodr¨ªguez proudly donned his Olympic bronze medal on Saturday, saying it was an experience ¡°I cannot even put into words.¡± It was just the second trip ever for the D.R. to the Olympics.
After returning from nearly one month overseas in mid-August, Rodr¨ªguez wrapped his 2021 season by hitting a gaudy .395/.483/.565 over 32 games at Arkansas, where he finished his season on Sept. 19. He returned home to the D.R. before his visit to Seattle, but he¡¯s been following the big league club closely.
The best part, in his estimation, has been watching his former teammates -- Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert among others -- contributing to this late season run. Rodr¨ªguez was greeted with a big embrace from Gilbert in the dugout on Saturday and watching Kelenic¡¯s RBI double in Friday¡¯s loss gave him goosebumps.
¡°My goodness, I had to hold myself up there,¡± Rodr¨ªguez said. ¡°For real, man, that was electric. I just love how everybody reacted to it. I love that [Kelenic] started off kind of shaky, but I love seeing his success right now. ¡ It¡¯s just fun to watch guys I played with, being here and being successful right now.¡±
It might not be all that long until he¡¯s among them.