The Julio Rodríguez stat that will scare the pants off Mariners fans

Seattle Mariners star center fielder Julio Rodríguez is widely known as a true five-tool player. He’s got it all — speed, defense, power, contact, and the instincts to steal bases. At his best, he’s electric on both sides of the ball, a face-of-the-franchise player with MVP upside. 

But in 2025, one of those tools appears to be a little less sharp. According to Statcast, Rodríguez's average sprint speed over the past two seasons clocked in at an elite 29.6 feet per second. That placed him comfortably among the fastest centerfielders in baseball. This year he's down to 27.4 feet per second — the second-slowest among qualified center fielders on Statcast’s leaderboard, as noted by Brandon Gustafson of CBS Sports on X.

That’s not just a minor drop-off. It’s a noticeable shift in how J-Rod moves on the field.

Why isn't Julio Rodríguez running as fast as usual?

So far this season, most of Rodríguez's tools are still showing up. He’s hitting for power, driving the ball to all fields, and playing strong defense. But still, he just doesn’t look the same when he’s running. Even on what seem to be all-out sprints, there’s something off. We’re not here to question his hustle — far from it — but the tape doesn’t lie: some of the ground balls that would’ve been infield hits in previous seasons are now easy outs.

The clearest example came during the San Francisco Giants series over the weekend, when shortstop Willy Adames made a throw from deep behind second base to get Rodríguez at first — a play that made Adames look like a magician but made J-Rod look...slow. And that’s not a word we’re used to attaching to him.

Flash back to July 2024: Rodríguez suffered a right high ankle sprain after a violent collision with the center field wall against the Houston Astros, after which he was placed on the injured list. Just weeks later, he aggravated the same ankle during a game against the Detroit Tigers in August. We’re still not a full year removed from that injury and, while there’s been no official word of lingering issues, his movement suggests the possibility of residual effects.

To be clear, this is all speculative — there hasn’t been any announcement from the Mariners or Rodríguez about the ankle continuing to be an issue. But the data, the eye test, and the trend all raise a fair question: is he still feeling that ankle? Or, is he simply pacing himself for the long haul — playing it safe until the Mariners are in the playoff hunt down the stretch?

Despite the dip in speed, his performance at the plate has been impressive. He’s showing more consistency, hitting for extra bases, and continuing to flash the star-level talent that makes him the heart of the Mariners lineup. And his arm is as strong as ever — just look at the laser he fired home against Houston on Monday night, saving a crucial run.

But the speed is indeed missing. Whether it’s about recovery, preservation, or a more permanent change in his physical profile, it’s something worth monitoring closely as the season unfolds.

Has Rodríguez truly lost a step, or is this just a calculated evolution in how he approaches the game? Either way, this version of Julio Rodríguez — still a star, still dynamic, but maybe a little more grounded — may just be navigating a new chapter in his career. One where his ceiling remains sky-high, even if he’s not flying quite as fast.