The Mariners announced they’ve placed Julio Rodríguez on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain. Seattle recalled Taylor Trammell from Triple-A Tacoma to take the vacated active roster spot.
Rodríguez has battled back soreness for a few days, and the issue was serious enough the club sent him for an MRI this afternoon. Manager Scott Servais told reporters this evening the team’s doctors were still evaluating the imaging results results before determining whether an IL stint would be necessary (via Adam Jude of the Seattle Times). Further specifics on Rodríguez’s condition aren’t clear, but the issue is evidently serious enough it’ll cost him at least a week and a half.
There are 12 days remaining in the regular season, so it’s possible Rodríguez makes it back by the start of the postseason. Needless to say, the M’s would surely be better off if he can get back in time for the opening round of the playoffs. With a four-game cushion over the Orioles for the American League’s final Wild Card spot, the Mariners are in strong position to secure their first postseason berth in over two decades. Embarking on a long playoff run would certainly be a lot tougher without the AL Rookie of the Year candidate, as Rodríguez is already Seattle’s best player.
During his debut campaign, Rodríguez has connected on 27 home runs and stolen 25 bases. He’s the only player in the majors who has already eclipsed 25 homers and steals apiece, and he owns an overall .280/.342/.502 line through 549 plate appearances. Rodríguez has paired that excellent offensive production with above-average center field defense in cementing himself among the sport’s top young stars.
For whatever time Rodríguez is out, the Mariners are set to turn to one of their other former top outfield prospects. Jarred Kelenic has yet to cement himself as a big league regular, owning a .170/.250/.340 line over 504 MLB plate appearances. The one-time sixth overall pick and consensus top prospect just recently turned 23 years old, though, and he’s raked at a .295/.365/.557 clip in 86 games in Tacoma this year. Servais confirmed that Kelenic would be the everyday center fielder for as long as Rodríguez is out of action (Jude link).
STRAIN.
Thank you. That’s all I needed. We’ll see ya in OCT
Starts today I guess, since he played 1/2 an inning yesterday?
I know, we are so late into this thing now that every single at bat matters.
M’s are done for
Nice try, tool-bag
Calm down Larry.
Will do, Joy.
Not a good thing at all.
These tall young guys too often have it become chronic.
I won’t go back over my comments on the earlier story, but I sure hate to see it.
I was as crazy about this young fireball as anyone.
Well, we have to look to Kelenic now, with Geno and Julio both gone.
You are right Fred. But at least now we have it diagnosed and he can learn to maximize his back strength and stamina in the gym. Take solace in the fact that he has played more games this season that in any stretch of this time in his life. He is definitely pushing the body at this point. Somebody who plays so hard, and leaves himself out there every game; it’s not too shocking when you think of it this way.
Cheers to the Mariners getting this thing done and cheers to new and improved “intense kelenic”
Yes, Hawk. It appears that Kelenic has gotten his intensity under better control this time up.
Go Mariners!
i dunno, he looked about ready to punch someone after getting the post game celebratory ice water bath.
dude…they are pouring water you because you had a great game! For someone to get pissed about that during a season they have barely hit .100……….just wow
Man, I want to see that. Can you post a link, please?
it’d hard to tell in low res, but watching this live he was shooting fire from his eyes here. (Notice there’s no one within 50 feet)
If you have MLB TV it’s right after the postgame interview in his first game back..
twitter.com/kennerdoloman/status/15730878719843368…
What kind of questions was he asked by the reporter when he got doused? Mind-reading isn’t a precise science.
If the Mendoza line is .200, what do you call the line Kelenic hits at??
They call that the JBJ line
Such a talented young player. Hope he heals up and shows out in October.
It’s far too soon to draw conclusions on Julio Rodríguez physical future.
–
As for Kelenic, I always had doubts about him, Brodie put him in with the trade for Cano to turn the Mets culture around. Brodie was not a baseball guy. He relied on the Mets high-level baseball analysts in trades. They could have stopped that trade. These are the same people that brought in: Nimmo, McNeil, Rosario, Alonso, Guillorme, deGrom, Lugo, Syndergaard, Wheeler, Gimenez and others. They were/are very good.
I’ve always felt that the Mets people saw something in his swing, approach, or attitude – possibly not being receptive to coaching that was going to be needed for him to adjust to ML pitching.
Mariners fans have been waiting too long for a playoff team. I hope I’m wrong and Mr. Kelenic can prove to be at least a solid ML CF. Mariners fans deserve it.
Really tough time for the Mariners to lose their best player especially given their poor play of late. The 4 game lead over Baltimore is very nice but not insurmountable. Baltimore will probably need to win 11 out of 12 to have a real shot of passing Seattle, but with the way Seattle has been playing, Baltimore still has a fighting chance. It would be a shame to see Seattle miss the playoffs yet again, but both Seattle and Baltimore should be playoff caliber teams for years to come given their youth and talent. Seattle just needs to hope the Rodríguez back issue is truly just a muscular issue (strain) and not a spine issue as that can really derail a player’s career.
The Mariners have already made 3 sloppy errors tonight, only in the 4th inning.
Kelenic, Toro, and Frazier.
O’s have a very difficult schedule remaining.
Think the Mariners get in.
And so it begins
It looks to me tonight like the team has quit on this season.
Sloppy play, no spark at all.
Why would they quit on the season?
Tired and discouraged. The last hard road trip grinding to an end in a season full of key injuries.
Fred Park;
Haven’t been watching the game. Sorry to hear that. Something about Dipoto that’s always seemed a buck short to me.
The Mariners were never going to the WS this year. But like the Guardians – a team I figure won’t get out of the first round and may well be swept – the achievement of the players making the playoffs and getting some experience in them as a team is a huge positive and something to build on for the next year.
O’s are 3 out
The playoffs are like a new season. Three good starters an effective pen, timely hitting, no mistakes and luck.
In 1984, the Tigers beat every team save one. The Mariners had the Tigers’ number that year.
I thought the Tigers won the WS in 84?
They went 35-5 then were swept in Seattle. They couldn’t win in Seattle that year going 1-5.
Anything can happen if you make the dance. Back in ’83, my Phillies beat the Dodgers in the playoffs after losing 10 of 12 to them during the regular season. And didn’t the Cardinals win a WS a few years back after barely winning the NL Central and having the worst W-L record among all the NL playoff teams?
I don’t have a dog in the AL fight, but I do hope Seattle makes the post season. Twenty years is a long time to wait. My Phillies haven’t been there since 2011 and I’m frustrated. Seattle fans have waited almost twice as long. Hope both teams get in and do well.
The pitching both starters and bull pen should be one of the scariest groups. Castillo, Ray, Gilbert, and Kirby pretty good group. If Ray falters Flexen can come in long relief. They have the guys in the pen to come in early if need be. We all know starters are on a short leash.
We need Julio and Suarez to come back and be in mid season form. Hitting as has been the case all season. If Kelenic can keep hitting like he has since being called up that will help. That should keep Winker on the bench being a cheerleader. Santana can DH over Winker.
Back to Kelenic the water getting dumped on him was ridiculous. He was pissed shooting daggers and shaking his head. I wonder what the guy does for fun? Man he is intense. He was the guy in HS that probably would get in your face if you struck out. So much talent such small head space.
With Seattle’s pitching they could be a tough draw. With the hitting could be a warm up for the other team. The part that sucks unless Seattle goes on a tear they might not get to play in front of own fans. T Mobile will be sold out and rocking. The fans have been awesome turned out in OK numbers when they are bad and great when playing good. I am happy they have a great chance to make the playoffs but would be ecstatic if we made the second round.