Watch: Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez blasts 1st HR of season
Apr 23, 2024, 6:19 PM | Updated: Apr 24, 2024, 1:09 pm
Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his two-run home run during a 2024 game. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
(Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners star center fielder Julio Rodríguez didn’t have the start to the season offensively he or the organization had hoped, but he’s starting heat up the plate. That showed Tuesday evening when he belted his first home run of the season in a 4-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
Julio Rodríguez reunites with an old friend: Mariners’ HR trident
Rodríguez went nearly 100 plate appearance before pulling an 89 mph sinker on the inside corner deep into the second deck of the left-center-field seats of Globe Life Field for a two-run home run, scoring Josh Rojas for a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The homer came off the bat at 110.5 mph and traveled 435 feet, per Statcast.
J-Rod connects for his first homer of the year! 💪 pic.twitter.com/cJRFZ2GLoC
— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2024
If you were impressed by seeing where Julio’s homer landed, it’s arguably more eye-opening to watch his swing from the field level in the video below:
The 23-year-old Rodríguez was hitting just .190 with one extra-base hit, five RBI and a .456 OPS through April 15, but he’s been a red-hot of late. He entered Tuesday’s matchup on a six-game hitting streak, which included multi-hit performances over the past five games. During the five-game stretch, Rodriguez batted .500 (12-for-24) with two doubles, three RBI and a 1.083 OPS.
Defense of Seattle Mariners’ Rodríguez is ‘off the charts’
Rodríguez entered the game as one of just four Mariners hitters who were on the opening day roster that hadn’t hit a home run. The others are first baseman Ty France, outfielder Luke Raley and catcher Seby Zavala, the latter two of which have played part-time roles. Catcher Cal Raleigh leads the team with six home runs. He hit his sixth off Dunning during the first inning Tuesday.
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