With this version of Julio, Mariners can ‘legitimately’ win it all
Sep 9, 2025, 12:32 PM
Death, taxes and Julio Rodríguez going on a second-half tear.
At this point, it’s starting to become like clockwork. After another somewhat ordinary first half of the season, the Seattle Mariners star center fielder has been one of MLB’s best players over the past two months.
Mariners’ Leo Rivas making strong case for more playing time
Since July 11, Rodríguez ranks second in the majors in home runs (19), second in slugging percentage (.649), second in fWAR (3.2), fifth in OPS (1.002), ninth in batting average (.313) and tied for 15th in stolen bases (10), according to FanGraphs.
What would it mean for the Mariners if Rodríguez sustains this level of production through September and into October?
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi touched on that possibility during his weekly appearance on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob.
“If Julio is playing like this, like he’s played in the second half – and (Cal) Raleigh keeps playing at his MVP pace, and you look around the rest of the lineup and say, OK, if you get maybe a home run or two every series from Geno (Eugenio Suárez) in the playoffs and you start to project forward – this is the kind of team that can legitimately win a World Series,” Morosi said.
“He can do things that really no one else on the team can do when he when he’s really rolling – the defense, the athleticism, the base stealing, all those types of things,” Morosi added. “He’s just a one of one player when he’s really going. And lately, he’s been going.”
If the Mariners reach the playoffs for the second time since Rodríguez debuted in 2022, Morosi thinks he could go on an October tear.
“I think that we’re now going to get a chance – probably, as long as the Mariners finish this off – to see him now in a second postseason where I think he’ll be a little more comfortable,” Morosi said. “And he’s got that Carlos Correa-type vibe from him to where Correa said, OK, this is my time, I want to be in the postseason.
“I think if you give Julio enough chances, he’s got an opportunity to have one of those kinds of Octobers.”
Listen to the full conversation with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi at this link or in the audio player at the bottom of this story. Tune into Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Pair of Mariners pitchers progressing toward returns from injury
• ESPN ranks Mariners’ core group second only to Dodgers in MLB
• Five teams that can help the Mariners reach the playoffs
• Why an Etsy witch may have helped the Mariners snap their skid
• How Seattle Mariners could shake up lineup in ‘outside-the-box’ way
