Julio Rodríguez showing ‘something special’ like other Mariners phenoms

It’s fairly arduous for Mariners followers to comprise their pleasure about 21-year-old rookie Julio Rodríguez proper now.

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Rodríguez is quickly figuring issues out on the main league stage, hitting .288 with a .352 on-base share and .748 OPS over his final 30 video games. He’s additionally crushed a pair of homers, each of which have been impressively hard-hit, and he’s tied for the MLB lead in stolen bases with 10 getting into Monday.

On Sunday, Rodríguez had his most fun recreation up to now, going 4 for 4 with a stroll, a house run, two RBIs and two runs scored to assist the Mariners beat the Nationwide League East-leading Mets 8-7 and ship an enormous collection win to Seattle.

For sure, individuals are taking discover.

“Each time I watch him, he’s only a tremendously gifted athlete,” Brock Huard mentioned Monday throughout his every day section on Seattle Sports activities Station’s Mike Salk Present.

Responded Salk: “He at all times appears to do one thing to have an effect on the sport.”

Not solely that, however Rodríguez is doing so in a manner that’s reminding folks of different phenoms from Mariners historical past.

“The quantity of floor that he covers (in heart area), the fluidity with which he runs, the benefit with which he’s swinging… that is an unfair comp and he’s not Ken Griffey Jr. but, nevertheless it was the identical factor about Griffey,” Huard mentioned. “It’s the identical motive that everybody that’s of their 40s, like I’m, after they exit and play wiffle ball can nonetheless emulate the little wiggle from Ken Griffey Jr.’s swing. … Like, that was the swing, and I can solely think about the variety of children which can be going to have their bats painted (like Rodríguez) and the children which can be going to emulate that swing with the excessive elbow.”

Huard noticed a top quality from Rodríguez within the collection towards the Mets that was just like one thing Griffey and fellow Mariners legend Félix Hernández each possessed.

“Fairly cool to see a child that form of matches consistent with what Griffey used to do and what what Félix used to do, and that was, ‘Once I get on the large stage, and also you’re gonna put me out there in New York, and also you’re gonna put me on the jap seaboard in Boston, and also you’re gonna put me in these locations with all eyes on me,’ as an alternative of shrinking, he beloved it,” Huard mentioned. “He captivated that stage and positively made a mark in New York with the Mariners leaving city winners, (leaving folks to say) ‘Man, we’re gonna need to keep watch over that Julio child as a result of that was one thing particular.’”

Brock Huard joins The Mike Salk Present reside at 7:45 p.m. every weekday on Seattle Sports activities Station 710 AM. Hearken to their full dialog from Monday within the last section of the podcast at this hyperlink or within the participant under.

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