GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Julio Rodríguez returned to the Mariners from the World Baseball Traditional prior to he would’ve appreciated, however now that he’s again, the reigning AL Rookie of the 12 months has shifted his focus solely to Opening Day.
“It felt like our our bodies had been in Spring Coaching, however our minds had been identical to racing,” Rodríguez stated. “Nevertheless it was enjoyable. It was enjoyable simply being there and getting within the spirits with all the blokes and getting to speak to all of them and decide up some stuff from them. It was fairly good.”
Rodríguez went 5-for-18 with a double and three RBIs over 4 video games for Crew Dominican Republic, which didn’t make it out of Pool D play after dropping a winner-take-all recreation in opposition to Puerto Rico on Wednesday. It was a disappointing end, provided that Crew D.R. was arguably the favourite to win all of it, however there have been a couple of enormous moments for the 22-year-old — none larger than his diving catch within the left-center-field hole in that elimination recreation.
“I used to be positively hyped after that one,” Rodríguez stated. “I positively made somewhat little bit of a mistake earlier than that, and with the ability to principally get myself again collectively and be there for the crew, though we did not get the outcomes that we wished.”
The error he referenced was on a one-hop line drive from Francisco Lindor that sailed previous Rodríguez’s left facet, reached the center-field wall and become an inside-the-park homer. It was a irritating second, however one emblematic of Rodríguez’s skill to rapidly flush the negatives, very similar to he did early in his rookie 12 months.
Past the blunder, the Traditional represented 10 lengthy days in Miami that spanned emotions of humility to rewarding to overwhelming — all elevated with the pleasure of taking part in for his homeland alongside superstars like Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Rafael Devers and new teammate Teoscar Hernández.
Rodríguez performed within the postseason and All-Star Sport as a rookie in 2022. How did the Traditional evaluate?
“I simply really feel prefer it’s a unique fanbase,” Rodríguez stated. “It is like folks that grew up within the Dominican Republic and that is what they know. And it is simply completely different, prefer it’ll by no means be the identical. … Each time you see a Dominican crew taking the sphere, you are going to see these flags. I simply felt like they are going to have fun us each time that we get on the sphere.”
Mariners supervisor Scott Servais highlighted that Rodríguez additionally could have discovered the advantage of “construction,” particularly in sustaining a routine that turned so detailed, but seamless throughout his first full season.
“You are taking gamers from all completely different organizations and no matter, you form of throw all of them collectively, and also you’re not fairly used to that,” Servais stated. “Typically, your routine, your program, will get somewhat bit out of whack and it is simply not as snug. That is what the construction does. It creates a confidence stage and a consolation stage like, ‘OK, I am able to go proper now.’ So he is completely satisfied to be again.”
Saturday marked Rodríguez’s seventh Cactus League recreation. With the common season looming and after the emotional highs and lows of the Traditional, he’d wish to get as many reps earlier than the March 30 opener at T-Cell Park in opposition to the Guardians. As a result of because the lights get brighter in his sophomore season, Rodríguez intends to be deliberate about his high priorities: baseball, efficiency and competitiveness.
“I really feel like I am again on my observe and form of with all of the move of issues right here,” Rodríguez stated. “The timing, I’ve positively acquired to get some extra at-bats and get it going for the season.”