Cannot be Stopped
The Seattle Mariners are playing baseball at an elite level right now. They finished a three-game sweep versus the Houston Astros where they swept them for the first team since 2018. It’s been quite an enjoyment to watch for Seattle Mariners fans. They are now 17-3 in their last 20 games. Though a large team effort with clutch hitting and great pitching, a big thanks to their success is partly due to centerfielder Julio Rodríguez.
Rodríguez’s Tear
Rodríguez has been tearing it up, hitting the ball like no one has seen before. In a five-game stretch, he totaled 18 hits. To which that the Mariners won every one of those games. In those five games, Rodríguez put on the best hitting clinic the MLB has seen in that stretch.
| Five Games | Plate Appearances (PA) | Hits (H) | Runs Batted In (RBI) | Batting Average (AVG) | |
| August 16th | 6 | 4 | 2 | .666 | |
| August 17th | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1.000 | |
| August 18th | 5 | 4 | 1 | .800 | |
| August 19th | 6 | 4 | 0 | .666 | |
| August 20th | 5 | 1 | 0 | .200 | |
| Totals | 27 | 18 | 8 | .666 |
Putting his name in the History Books
Rodríguez’s 17-hit total on Saturday’s game set a new MLB record. His 17 hits in four games broke the record for most hits in that span. He beat Milt Stock who in 1925, had 16 hits.
Rodríguez is now one of two players to post back-to-back seasons of 20-plus home runs (HR) and 20-plus stolen bases (SB) to start their MLB pro career. The second player is Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Rodríguez’s four-game span of a total of 17 hits was the same hit total (17) the New York Yankees had as a team in the same span. Rodríguez is the total athletic package. Despite being 6-3 and 228 lbs, with a rather large frame, he is third in the American League with 33 stolen bases. Not to mention his defense in center field (CF) is dangerous to hitters. He has his section dubbed “No-Fly Zone” for a reason. For years, fans will enjoy the greatness that is Rodríguez. By the end of his career or even by the end of the season, Rodríguez’s name will be synonymous with the city of Seattle. The J-Rod show is shining brighter than ever. Arguably the best part about all of this, he is only 22 years old. The third youngest player in the American League. The Mariners are looking to keep up their success as they try to make the playoffs for the second year in a row after a 21-year drought.