Recent MLB.com ranking foreshadows bounce back for Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez

Misguided or not, there has been a long-held belief among a lot of Seattle Mariners fans that the media has an East Coast/anti-Pacific Northwest bias against their team, resulting in a feeling of a lack of respect. Well, we're happy to share at least one instance of the mainstream media being positive about and promoting the M's ... at least in a manner of speaking.

Will Leitch of MLB.com has unveiled a list of the top 10 most indispensable stars whose teams need them the most, and right there at No. 5 is none other than Julio Rodríguez. Leitch writes that the Mariners' superstar in waiting is capable of ascending to heights hardly anyone else has the ability to reach in the game today.

The prime example Leitch gives of this is from August of the 2023 season, when Rodríguez produced a superior .429/.474/.724 slash line, on the way to a 1.197 OPS. He hit seven home runs and 30 RBI in the process, to lead the Mariners to a stunning 21-6 record for the month.

Julio Rodriguez carried the Mariners to the precipice of the playoffs

The Mariners would ultimately finish just one agonizing game back of the wild card in the American League. However, the fact they were even able to get back into the playoff picture was as a result of the 24-year-old putting the team on his back and carrying them into contention through sheer will.

There have been other examples of stretches when Rodríguez has performed like the generational talent he has promised to become, including in the final month of last season. He produced 22 RBI — a personal single-month high for 2024 — on the way to a .328/.349/.546 slash line and .895 OPS, as the Mariners went 16-10 to conclude the campaign.

Now yes, the team missed the playoffs, but the point is that without the renaissance of their two-time MLB All-Star, they likely wouldn't have even gotten that close. Although, mention of a renaissance does bring us to the other side of the coin when it comes to No. 44 in Seattle.

Julio Rodriguez needs to be even better for the Mariners

As Leitch mentions, Rodríguez has seen a decline in his offensive numbers since his first season in 2022, when he was named the American League Rookie of the Year. We're talking about consecutive drops each year in categories such as his slash line, OPS+, rOBA, Rbat+ and that all-invaluable WAR.

It is without any question that the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner needs to find more consistency in his game to claim his crown as one of the true superstars in Major League Baseball. Otherwise, the Mariners will continue to be on the outside looking in when it comes to even qualifying for the playoffs, never mind trying to advance and play in the first World Series in franchise history.

Recent Posts