This is the present and future of the Seattle Mariners. Julio Rodriguez, the next-generation franchise star, swung the bat.

Rodriguez played as the first batter center fielder in the 2023 Major League Baseball against the Kansas City Royals at Coffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on the 18th, and was active with five hits (one home run) and five RBIs and one run. With Rodriguez’s performance, Seattle won 6-4.

Rodriguez preheated his bat in his first at-bat in the top of the first inning. He hit Angel Zerpa’s slider to make an infield hit. Third baseman Mikel Garcia even made a throwing error and stepped on the second base. Eugenio Suarez walked on base, creating a chance to first and second base with no outs. However, Ty France, Theoska Hernandez and Dylan Moore failed to hit follow-up shots.

Rodriguez scored his first RBI in his second at-bat in the top of the second inning. With two outs and runners on first and third base, he came to bat and hit Gerpa’s first four-seam fastball. The pushed ball exceeded the height of the second baseman and fell in front of the center fielder. Third baseman Jose Caballero came home leisurely.

In his third at-bat in the top of the fourth inning, he once again got on base with an infield hit. But he failed to steal a base.

However, Rodriguez soothed his regret over his failure to steal in the top of the sixth inning, which was tied 1-1. With one out and runners on first and third base, he sent a line drive to left fielder MJ Melendez. Melendez, who made a wrong judgment on the ball, jumped in place, but failed to catch the ball. Cade Marlowe came home.

Rodriguez finished with a home run in his last at-bat in the top of the eighth inning, trailing 2-4. With one out and runners on first and second base, he hit Carlos Hernandez’s first four-seam fastball and crossed the left fence. He made his 20th home run of the season with a three-run home run. Seattle, which succeeded in reversing the game, won 6-4 with Carl Raleigh’s one-run home run in the top of the ninth inning.

Rodriguez had five hits in one game for the first time since his big league debut. He also hit the 20-home run mark for the second consecutive year since he first stepped on the Major League stage last season. It was his 48th home run of his career. Rodriguez became the Seattle franchise player who hit the most home runs in the first two seasons of his big league debut, according to the Major League Baseball’s official website, MLB.com .

“I was really proud and grateful to be able to do that for the team,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez became the American League Rookie of the Year last season with 145 hits, 28 home runs, 75 RBIs, 84 runs scored, and a batting average of 0.284 OPS 0.854. He also signed a contract worth $470 million (about 627.5 billion won) for up to 18 years, taking responsibility for Seattle’s future. This season, he has 134 hits, 20 home runs, 78 RBIs, 72 runs, and a batting average of 0.269 OPS of 0.780 points. 스포츠토토