Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez has a mentality with Raleigh hitting behind him

Jun 24, 2025, 2:05 PM | Updated: 4:54 pm

Editor, Seattle Sports

Cal Raleigh has been emerging as a superstar for the Seattle Mariners this season, shattering home run records left and right during an historic first half.

And almost every time he steps up the plate, it comes right after the player who has been the face of the franchise has his turn.

Monday: Cal Raleigh’s latest home run sets multiple records

While Raleigh is just two homers shy of his career-high mark of 34 before even hitting the midway point of the season, two-time All-Star center fielder Julio Rodríguez has been having a quieter – but still good – season.

Not that that’s out of the ordinary at this point in calendar. With a slash line of .254/.315/.413 for a .728 OPS, Rodríguez is pretty much in line with where he usually is in late June. Only in Rodríguez’s rookie season in 2022 did he have better slash numbers entering June 24. And even though his home run in Monday’s win over Minnesota was his first since May 27, his 11 homers on the season are behind only the 12 he hit in 2023 by this point in the season.

Translation: the Mariners could have both this new MVP-caliber version of Raleigh and the usual summer version of Rodríguez hitting back-to-back on a daily basis.

It seems like Rodríguez is just fine playing more of a supporting role with Raleigh hitting like he is, and he has a simple plan for helping out the team right now.

“My mentality is get on base – do something, get on base,” Rodriguez said to reporters after Monday’s game. “I know they did not want to face him after I hit that double (in the ninth inning). It doesn’t have to be a double. It could be a walk, it could be a base hit. Like, whatever it is, just get on, because the way that he’s swinging the bat, he can definitely create problems.”

Problems indeed. After Rodríguez doubled in the ninth inning against the Twins, Raleigh followed with his 32nd homer of the year, providing the final two runs of Seattle’s 11-2 victory.

As Mariners insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports mentioned, Rodríguez has been seen doing a lot of work on his swing before games. And while the power hasn’t necessarily been there over the last month, he has been hitting to the tune of a .304 average over his last 26 games.

On Monday, though, the slugging ability flashed as Rodríguez dug out a Bailey Ober changeup for a homer to left, then later added the double to cap off a night where he drove in four runs.

Not that Rodríguez was just trying to hit the ball any harder than usual.

“Just trying to put a good contact on the ball,” he told Drayer about the swing on his homer in an on-field interview on Seattle Sports immediately after the game. “Trusting myself, and just put a good swing on the ball. That’s why I was able to to drive that one right there. It felt really good, to be honest.”

🗣️ JULIOOOOO

🌟 https://t.co/Q16mvWt8m4 🌟 pic.twitter.com/HnOipbYnsF

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 24, 2025

“Something that we have never seen”

Raleigh’s incredible season thus far is certainly being appreciated by his teammate.

“It’s unbelievable. What we’re watching, I feel like that’s something that we have never seen before,” Rodríguez said to reporters Monday. “Coming from a catcher too, what he’s doing is so special. I’m very happy for him. It feels really good to see him succeed. And just what he’s doing in the game of baseball, I just think it’s so cool, man.”

Asked if Raleigh should be in MVP consideration in the American League, where Yankees star Aaron Judge remains the runaway favorite, Rodríguez didn’t hesitate with his answer.

“I mean, he for sure is showing it. The way he’s been doing on both sides… He’s been carrying us, in a way. He’s being our main force and he’s awesome,” Rodríguez said. “It’s awesome to watch, and the way that he’s doing it, I think he deserves to be looked at because what he’s doing as a catcher, it’s pretty special.

“And the way that he can impact the game truly (on) both sides… I just don’t think there’s anybody doing that right now. I think he just definitely deserves the first shot at the MVP with that.”

The Mariners will play the second game of their four-game series in Minnesota at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, with radio coverage on Seattle Sports beginning at 3:30 with the pregame show.