Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez Added to American League All-Star Roster
When the All-Stars of baseball descend on Seattle next week for the MLB All-Star festivities, Mariners star Julio Rodriguez will be the effective Master of Ceremonies.
The M's best player will represent the Mariners in the Home Run Derby, and now he'll also represent them in the game itself. He was announced on Tuesday as a replacement for Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez, who is out with injury.
It will be the second All-Star appearance for Rodriguez, who also made the team in 2022 in Los Angeles.
The 22-year-old is one of the best young players in baseball and the event will be a continued showcase of his talent to fans across the sport.
He's hitting .248 this season with 13 homers and 47 RBI. He's also stolen 20 bases. Though his overall numbers look low, he's gotten hot lately, recording multi-hit games in 17 of his last 38 games.
Rodriguez won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2022 when he hit .284 and had 28 home runs. He also helped the Mariners break the playoff drought and beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the wild card round.
The Mariners beat the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, 6-0, as Rodriguez went 2-5 with an RBI.
The M's, who have been frustrating all season, have won four consecutive games after beating the Rays twice and the Giants twice.
They'll finish out the series with the Giants on Wednesday night. First pitch from Oracle Park is 9:05 p.m.
The M's are five games back in the AL wild card race at 42-42.
Follow Fastball on FanNation in social media
Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
