M’s Rodriguez steals base to join elite 25-25 club

Julio Rodriguez continued to strengthen his rookie of the 12 months marketing campaign with one other huge accomplishment Wednesday, stealing his twenty fifth stolen base of the season to steer the Seattle Mariners to a 6-1 victory over the San Diego Padres, securing a key two-game cut up.

Rodríguez was hit by a pitch by San Diego starter Mike Clevinger and elevated his season’s stolen base complete to 25 within the fifth inning, making him the third rookie in league historical past to have not less than 25 steals and 25 homers of their first season. However not like Chris Younger in 2007 and Mike Trout in 2012, Rodriguez reached the 25/25 plateau in his debut season. Each Younger and Trout reached within the majors late within the earlier season, however had been nonetheless thought of rookies.

“I do not see myself as a rookie. I see myself as a participant like anyone else and I am simply completely happy that I am with the ability to ship for the group any time,” Rodriguez mentioned.

Along with his steal, Rodríguez additionally grew to become simply the fourth participant to succeed in 25 house runs and 25 stolen bases in a season at 21 years previous or youthful, in line with ESPN Stats & Info analysis. He joins Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2019, Trout in 2012 and Andruw Jones in 1998.

“For me one of many coolest issues I’ve seen shortly is when he is at second base after the twenty fifth stolen base and the group is on its ft and so they put the factor on the scoreboard, (he) flashes throughout his chest,” Seattle supervisor Scott Servais mentioned motioning throughout the entrance of the Mariners’ jersey. “It is concerning the Mariners. That is Julio Rodríguez.”

Rodríguez earlier hit his fourth leadoff house run of the season, checking one other field on a rising record of accomplishments which can be solely strengthening an already strong case for rookie of the 12 months. He hit the primary pitch thrown by Clevinger 385 ft into the left-field bullpen for his twenty sixth house run of the season.

The Related Press contributed to this report.