Mariners’ Julio after facing Muñoz: ‘That AB was not comfortable at all’

Feb 24, 2025, 3:52 PM | Updated: 4:43 pm

Mariners Insider, Seattle Sports

Each morning high on the to-do list in Seattle Mariners camp is checking the daily schedule, which is posted on video boards in front of the two main clubhouse entrances. It is here daily assignments for each position group can be found.

Seattle Mariners Notebook: Montes’ blast, Gilbert’s spring debut

On Monday morning, there was an item that jumped off the screen. In the pitching column under the “Live BP” header, there was one name on schedule slotted to throw at 11:10 a.m. on Field 2.

“Muñoz.”

On the hitters column of the schedule, position groups are scheduled into batting practices, with most hitters completing a rotation of facing pitching machines in cages or coaches on a field. A remaining two or three players are scheduled to hit against the teammate(s) on the mound on Field 2. It was not immediately clear Monday morning who would face Andrés Muñoz as the schedule on the monitor was cut off right before the spot where those names would appear. Word got out quickly however that Cade Marlowe was one of the hitters.

The other: Julio Rodríguez.

“Yes I am,” Julio confirmed as he trotted in from cage work. “And I told him not to throw any of the (funny stuff).”

At 11:10, Julio stepped in against Muñoz in front of a heavy crowd of fans, media, some teammates, coaches and front office members. This indeed was the show of the day, and it lived up to the billing.

"That was the first and last time I will ever face him." 👀

Julio Rodríguez vs. Andrés Muñoz.

(🎥 @shannondrayer) https://t.co/nD8tm00fyY pic.twitter.com/ULgPUA3m5T

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) February 25, 2025

While Muñoz did not throw the new changeup that caused a stir Saturday to Julio, he did mix the fastball and slider.

Muñoz started him out with Strike 1 on a slider that Julio did not offer at, then got him swinging with a 2-2 count on a 100 mph fastball. Julio barked good-naturedly at Muñoz as he backed toward the dugout, then told everyone within earshot that was some nasty stuff.

Marlowe, a lefty, followed and did see the changeup. Like the changeup Muñoz threw in his bullpen, this one came in at 91 mph. It didn’t quite have the 10-inch vertical drop of the original pitch, but it did register a still elite six inches. Marlowe, like Julio, struck out in his first plate appearance.

Back for more, Julio stepped back in with a clear plan: get the fastball, and get it now. That he did, rocketing the first-pitch offering from Muñoz to the wall in left field. There was more jawing, and then dancing and firing his bat into the ground as Julio headed back to the dugout.

Munoz K’s Julio in 1st ab but Julio gets him back and talks about pic.twitter.com/cpYUPaqDFb

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) February 24, 2025

Muñoz and Julio ended the session an even 1-1, with Julio seeing the events of the last few days as a big win for the Mariners.

“I was ready (for the fastball), but I told him as I was leaving that was the first and last time I would ever face him,” he said. “He was definitely that tough.”

Julio had no problem putting himself in the shoes of Mariners opponents, and after he wanted Muñoz to understand just what that was like.

“That at-bat was not comfortable at all. ‘Muni’ is just that guy,” he said. “I talk to him about how he makes hitters feel but that was the first time I faced him. I told him first and last.”

With a bat that will prompt opponents to bring out their best late in-game arms, Julio has seen great pitching. What he saw from Muñoz more than compared.

“I’ve seen him from center (field), I know what he has, but man it’s a different look from the batter’s box,” he said. “It’s obviously an electric fastball, and like one of the best sliders I ever faced in my life. He’s just that guy. It’s just very rare to find somebody that throws as hard and locate with the quality of pitches he has. And to be able to put them both as a strike, put them up in the zone, have the sinker also, sweep that slider across.

“Man. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve got.”

More ABs this spring

Julio was doing some teammating of his own, continuing his conversation with Muñoz in the clubhouse, a clear glimpse at leadership from the veteran of now three big league seasons. It was a good sight to see.

Of course there was benefit for Julio, as well. He has been no stranger to the live BPs this spring and said it was indeed all about getting the extra at-bats that have been recommended by manager Dan Wilson and senior director of hitting strategy Edgar Martinez.

Those at-bats in the live BPs are usually taken by younger players as veterans quite often do not want to step in against their own pitchers – particularly those with nasty stuff – early in the spring. For Julio, it is an opportunity.

“I’m definitely trying to get more at-bats, more reps, and prepare myself a little bit better to hit the ground running,” he said. “There isn’t any better training anywhere else in the league than against the pitchers we have got over here.”