Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguezdoes not hide his enthusiasm for the next MLB season. After watching the postseason from home, Rodríguez couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened to the Mariners in October, after the Buccaneers were eliminated from the American League Wild Card spots for the second consecutive year.
“I watched a lot of the games.”Rodríguez confessed to MLB.com. “Every time I could, I saw them with my dad and my friends. That’s where you want to be. Unfortunately, this year I had to be the one who sees them from afar, but that’s where we want to be. “I like where we are as a team, and I feel like next year I won’t be watching from home.”
Committed to the community
Rodríguez has not only remained active on the field, but also off it. Recently, he led a toy drive through his No Limits Foundation, in collaboration with the Mariners Care Foundation.
During the event in Seattle, Rodríguez welcomed dozens of fans who donated baseball and softball toys and apparel in exchange for photos and autographs. The funds raised will benefit people in need both in Seattle and in his hometown of Loma de Cabrera, in the Dominican Republic.
Optimism for 2025
Reflecting on last season, Rodríguez identified areas for improvement and expressed optimism for 2025. “I have had time to reflect and, obviously, there are areas for improvement”he commented. “But, at the same time, we finished well as a team, not only personally, but as a collective. I’m excited to see that from day one. I know a lot of people aren’t very excited about it, but I am.”.
The change in management at the Mariners, with Dan Wilson replacing Scott Servais as manager on August 22, and the arrival of temporary hitting coach Edgar Martínez, were key factors in the team’s resurgence.
Seattle closed the season with a 21-13 record with its new manager at the helm, projecting a 100-win season over a full 162-game schedule. During that period, Rodríguez shined with a .313/.364/.537 offensive line and nine home runs.
With a mix of talent, determination and renewed focus, Julio Rodríguez and the Seattle Mariners are ready to face the 2025 season with high expectations and the hope of finally reaching the postseason.
