LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 18: American League All-Star Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts while competing during the 2022 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium on July 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez is having an incredible start to his MLB career and is making history with some of the most elite players.
Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez, nicknamed “J-Rod,” is having one of the best possible starts to his MLB career.
He’s already established himself as a huge asset in Seattle, and he’s joining elite company as the fourth AL player 21 or under to hit 25+ homers in his first MLB season.
Julio Rodríguez is the 4th AL player age 21-or-younger to hit 25+ home runs in his first MLB season, joining Joe DiMaggio (1936), Ted Williams (1939) & Eddie Murray (1977).
— Alex Mayer (@alexmayer34) September 13, 2022
Rodriguez joins Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Eddie Murray.
Rodriguez is also considered a leader in Seattle, despite being completely new to the majors.
Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez emerged as a leader in his first season
According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, the young rookie has been a leader to his teammates in the dugout. Rodriguez reportedly approached teammate Paul Sewald, described as “disheartened [with his] head firmly in his hands,” shortly after Sewald gave up a homer. He gave Sewald motivation and “declared to him that Seattle would storm back and win.”
He then let his teammates know he supported them in the dugout and said, “Even whenever someone is down, we all kind of have that brotherhood that, ‘If you don’t do it, I’m going to help you out,’ ’I’m going to pick you up.’ It’s pretty cool what we have on this team right now.”
He’s certainly a leader both on and off the field. Though there’s always room for improvement, he’s having a better rookie season than most and he’ll likely only continue to get better.
