Mariners Notebook: Julio’s exchange with ump before hard-hit 2B

Feb 25, 2025, 4:30 PM

Mariners Insider, Seattle Sports

The Seattle Mariners made the short drive to Glendale, Ariz., to take on the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday afternoon and came away with an 11-5 win over an LA team that without many of its stars.

Seattle Mariners reunite with reliever who was with team in 2023

Luis Castillo made his first Cactus League start of the season, going 1 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run (which came after two first-inning errors) on two hits and a walk with one strikeout. He threw all of his pitches with the fastball topping out at 94.8 mph.

Of six balls put in play, four were on the ground, something Castillo was pleased to see.

“It’s a good sign,” Castillo said via interpreter Freddy Llanos. “It’s telling me the pitches are good, I’m able to throw those. Maybe a double play when the situation needs it. It just tells me the pitches are pretty good.”

Castillo, who ended last season on the injured list with a grade 2 hamstring strain suffered Sept. 8 in St. Louis, was looking to get even more out of his first outing.

“Over anything, it is just trying to find the confidence,” he said. “It’s been a while since I have faced a batter. I’m just trying to get that confidence back and get in a rhythm, get on a roll.”

What happened there?

Offensively, sticking with the plan to get veterans more at-bats this spring, J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodríguez went to the plate three times.

Julio recorded a 112.4 mph RBI double in the second inning after some controversy at the plate, and it was a curious scene just before when home plate umpire Malachai Moore called time and stepped in front of Julio as he was set to hit. Moore appeared to be lecturing Julio, and there was substantial back and forth before Julio stepped back to the plate and scalded the ball to right-center.

After the hit, manager Dan Wilson entered the field to get an explanation of what had happened at home plate, and Julio ran in from second to state his case.

Shortly after Julio exited the game following his third at-bat, he filled reporters in on what took place on the field.

“(Moore) was saying I disengaged because I kinda looked up to see if the pitcher was ready, then looked in to start everything going,” he explained. “But once I looked up, I looked back down because I knew he was ready.”

Julio indicated it wasn’t the message but the intensity in which it was delivered that bothered him in the moment. All’s well that ended well for Julio, who agreed there may have been a little extra in the swing.

“A little bit,” he said. “It was not hard to get going.”

All in all, Julio is comfortable where he is in his progression at the plate.

“At this moment right now I feel good,” he said. “I feel like I have been taking good at-bats. Obviously (Dodgers starter Blake) Snell pitched pretty good today, but I felt good.”

How Mariners’ new hitting coach plans to help Julio Rodríguez

Mitch Garver checked in with an offensive highlight as well, hitting his first home run of the spring. Garver homered on a 98.6 mph fastball off Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius.

🌮 Garv-sauce oppo-taco 🌮 pic.twitter.com/zD8qHzkwfv

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 25, 2025

Seattle Mariners notes

• Right-handed reliever Gregory Santos threw his first live batting practice of camp, facing Donovan Solano and Jorge Polanco, both of whom are getting closer to getting into games. Santos’ command was spotty, but he did clear an important hurdle in facing live hitters after dealing with a lat strain last year.

“He’s put in a lot of time this offseason, Woody (pitching coach Pete Woodworth) and Trent (Blank) were on top of it all offseason long,” Wilson said. “He’s just really done the things he had to do put himself in a good position and continued to make each stair climb as he’s gone. Live BP is another. Just keep pushing it. He’s in a good spot. Obviously would be a good piece to have down there.”

• The Mariners return to Peoria tomorrow to take on the A’s with George Kirby scheduled to get his first spring start.