The American League Rookie of the Year race is a tight one between several up-and-coming young stars, but there is one in particular who might be the clear-cut favorite.
Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez is on pace for a great finish.
He’s already hit 15 homers on the season and is hitting .275 with 43 RBI.
Rodriguez made his debut on April 8 and after a tough start, he appears to be on track again and staking his claim as an AL Rookie of the Year candidate.
Hector Gomez tweeted some of Rodriguez’s stats through his first 81 career games, which show him on pace for a big second half and an eventual Rookie of the Year Award.
Julio Rodriguez becomes the only player in MLB history with 15+ HR, 15+ 2B and 20+ SB in his first 81 MLB career games.@z101digital @ZDeportes pic.twitter.com/0TKsom1I9x
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) July 5, 2022
The Emergence Of J-Rod
It’s been a hot start for Rodriguez.
To have at least 15 home runs, 15 doubles, and 20 or more stolen bases through the first 81 games of his career is quite impressive and shows that he’s on pace for even more success, success that could take him to the point where he wins Rookie of the Year thanks to a big second half.
It had been a tough start to the season for the Mariners, even after all the moves they made to improve their roster, including signing Robbie Ray and acquiring Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez, and Adam Frazier.
But thanks to Rodriguez’s emergence, Seattle has improved as of late, now sitting at 40-42 and just four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the final AL Wild Card spot.
This is a team that has yet to reach the postseason since 2001.
It would be huge if they can get to October in Rodriguez’s first year.
That would certainly help his case to win Rookie of the Year.
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