The Mariners announced that outfielder Julio Rodriguez has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list. ESPN’s Buster Olney (X link) reported earlier today that Seattle intended to activate Rodriguez in time for tonight’s game with the Mets. Infielder Ryan Bliss was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
A collision with the outfield wall left Rodriguez with a right high ankle sprain back on July 21, and he was placed on the IL a couple of days later. As recently as yesterday, reports indicated that Rodriguez wasn’t expected to play today, yet the Mariners were considering him day-to-day due to some improvement in his ability to run. Naturally the Mariners aren’t going to take any untoward risks with Rodriguez’s health, but with Seattle in a pitched battle with the Astros for the AL West lead, both Rodriguez and the team had an obvious desire to get him back in action as soon as safely possible.
Rodriguez will be the designated hitter in tonight’s lineup, which could be the team’s most common way to deploy Rodriguez until his ankle is feeling fully ready for regular center field duty. Installing Rodriguez at DH also allows Seattle to keep Victor Robles in center field, as Robles has (surprisingly) been one of the Mariners’ better hitters since he was signed in early June.
The timing couldn’t have been much worse for Rodriguez to hit the IL, as he was sidelined just as his bat was waking up from a season-long slump. Rodriguez struggled to a .244/.294/.324 slash line and seven home runs over his first 364 plate appearances, but he had cracked four homers and posted a 1.219 OPS in the 49 trips to the plate prior to his injury. That hot streak lifted his season-long wRC+ back up to an evenly league-average 100. Rodriguez has also continued to deliver strong defense in center field, but Robles also filled in nicely in terms of glovework.
not a slump he’s just really not that good
Still better than your ability to comment.
Or his ability to simply look at statistics. In addition to his two seasons in the majors, his track record in the minors says otherwise.
oh wow two seasons in the majors with a worse offensive output each season. so good! how’s his postseason batting
Yet 29 teams would love to have him in centerfield.
Worst take of the day.
so overrated
You just ignored my statement about his minor league numbers demonstrating his consistency. Also, going from year 1 to 2 and saying he is declining is kind of silly. His season isn’t even done yet and this season has seen a LOT of really good players plummeting. Rodriguez has some really good company
His postseason stats. You really do like to cherry pick to make your points, don’t you. I wonder why you didn’t bring up his .357 OBP or .435 SLG in his whopping total 28 PA of playoff experience.
Go ahead. Tell me more about baseball.
I agree, they play him up as if he’s Griffey and no sir he ain’t Griffey no plate discipline.
Not many are like Griffey.
Rodriguez seemed intent on proving you correct, striking out all 5 times he was up today. No discipline is right.
One-game samples definitely tell all.
Uh Griffey was a very special talent, bit unfair to compare him to one of the greatest hitters of all-time, just saying…
Sucks for Bliss. He deserves a shot a some point. I know it’s the PCL but he’s hit pretty well with some pop despite his small frame. Mariners need offense wherever they can get it, too.
Ignorance is bliss