Watch: Julio sets new personal best with another home run

Slow starts have put a damper on each of Julio Rodríguez’s first three seasons in MLB, but he’s exhibiting signs of ending that trend in his fourth season as a big leaguer.

Rodríguez continued to display an early power surge in the first inning Sunday against San Francisco, clubbing a hanging sweeper from Giants starter Jordan Hicks 422 feet into the stands in left field for a solo home run.

Seattle Mariners switch-pitching prospect dazzles in pro debut

The home run was Rodríguez’s third of the season and second of the three-game series. He also homered off three-time Cy Young-winner Justin Verlander on Friday with an impressive opposite-field blast.

With Sunday being Rodríguez’s 10th game of the season, it marked the fastest the star center fielder has reached three homers. His previous best was 17 games during the 2023 campaign, and it took him 53 games to reach the mark last season.

The homer brought the 24 year old’s slugging percentage up to .576 through his first 33 at-bats of 2025.

You can see it in the video below.

The Mariners tacked another run in the third inning when switch-hitting catcher Cal Raleigh blasted his second home run of the year and first from the left side of the plate for a 2-0 lead.

Related: What we learned from the first edition of Seattle Sports’ Cal Raleigh Show

Raleigh, who recently signed a six-year, $105 million contract extension with the M’s, pulled a sinker from Hicks just over the high wall in right field at Oracle Park for a 347-foot blast.

Raleigh’s home run was the 95th of his career, which tied Mike Zunino for the M’s franchise record for catchers.

Seattle Mariners coverage

• Seattle Mariners make roster move to replenish bullpen
• Another M’s prospect moves into Baseball America’s Top 100
• 2 top Seattle Mariners prospects shine in 2025 season debuts
• A good start? Julio flashes early power with 2nd HR of season
• The Mariners whose stocks are rising and falling after opening week

Follow @ZacHereth