Julio Rodríguez robs Judge of HR in huge WBC battle

For a second, it looked like Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez would need to come out of the gigantic World Baseball Classic semifinal between the Dominican Republic and USA on Sunday night.

It’s a good thing for his home country he didn’t.

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Just momemts after USA pitcher Paul Skenes hit Rodríguez near his wrist, Rodríguez was back in center field with reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge at the plate. And Judge sent a rocket towards the wall behind Rodríguez at Miami’s LoanDepot Park.

Rodríguez got a good jump and a good look at Judge’s long fly ball, timed his jump perfectly and brought it back before it could clear the wall.

The No Fly Zone just went international.

Watch the stunning catch here:

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ HOME RUN ROBBERY! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/Z2u9e8dorl

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 16, 2026

NO FLY ZONE 🚫 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/NxHXugeDf3

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 16, 2026

Rodríguez was understandably pumped about the play, as it kept the Dominican within a run of the USA in the fifth inning. And the play meant that Mariners fans could breathe a sigh of relief, because it seems Rodríguez’s arm was no worse for wear after taking the brunt of 98 mph heat from the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner.

Unfortunately for Rodríguez and his teammates, the USA would hold on for a 2-1 win Sunday night. The Americans will play for the WBC championship Tuesday night against the winner of Monday’s semifinal between Italy and Venezuela. That means Rodríguez will return to M’s spring training camp in Arizona a day or two sooner than Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who is on the USA roster.

Seattle Mariners news and analysis

• Mariners Notebook: Kirby and Garver, injury updates and more
• Dipoto details how Mariners unlocked Eduard Bazardo
• Muñoz, Mastrobuoni return cherishing WBC experiences
• Roster Moves: Mariners re-assign Kade Anderson to minor league camp
• Arozarena issues statement upon return to Seattle Mariners

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