Mariners 2022 Prospect Rankings: #18 Alberto Rodriguez

It’s going to be tough for Alberto Rodriguez to make his way through the Mariners farm system without having a level of unrealistic expectations placed on him. When you share the same last name as the face of baseball (Julio Rodriguez) and are two months older than him, there are going to be fans that always bring the two up in comparison.

I don’t think it’s fair. At all. So I won’t be doing it anywhere in the article. This is one of the few international strong prospects that the Mariners have that they didn’t go out and sign. Back in 2020, the Mariners sent Taijuan Walker to the Jays and got Rodriguez in return. It was a big haul, and Alberto Rodriguez was someone the Blue Jays were reluctant to give up.

Alberto Rodriguez comes in as the Mariners #18 prospect in our 2022 rankings

A corner outfielder that lacks the speed to play center, or even left, he’s pretty much locked into right unless he can turn into one of those guys that finds speed as he matures, instead of slowing down a bit as he grows. He does have good instincts though and can steal more bases and cover a bit more ground than you would expect.

Harnessing some above-average to plus power, he needs to harness it a bit more to finish off the season in High-A Everett. The next step isn’t going to be easy, as Arkansas is a pitchers park and pitchers league, so it can be hard to produce there. He’s found the gaps a lot in 2022 but hasn’t put many over the fence. When you have below-average speed and fielding that is only average because of your arm, the bat has to be a difference maker.

He has made consistent contact, showing a decent eye at the plate with a K rate and BB rate that are both a bit better than average for a 20-year-old. If he can keep those rates as he finds that early 20s power, his profile will raise significantly. He sets up well at the plate with both quick hands and a quick bat, but he can get antsy at times and swing at bad pitches too often.

• Overall: 45
• Hit: 55
• Power: 50
• Run: 40
• Arm: 55
• Field: 45

His build likely locks him into a corner outfield spot, but he’s gonna have to work to stay serviceable out there. For the football fans out there, think early Eddie Lacy vs late Eddie Lacy. Those are the kind of things you want to avoid. Listed as somewhere in the 5’11” and 230 lb range, you can see why he is going to have to either have a massive bat or stay in shape.

Likely a fringe 4th outfielder currently, Alberto Rodriguez is going to need to find a bit of improvement in his bat, whether it’s the hit tool or the power tool, in order to find a role on a roster. Still just 21, he’s got plenty of time to mature and improve as he makes his way through the Mariners farm system.