Usually, when a player makes the major leagues at a very young age, it means he is supremely talented and a potential Hall of Famer.
Of course, it’s unfair to put those expectations on a player who is not even 23 years old, but you get the point.
Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez belongs to a select group of players in franchise history to make more than one All-Star Game before the end of his age-22 campaign.
Only two other Mariners players have done it besides him.
“Julio Rodríguez is the 3rd Mariners player to make multiple All-Star teams before the end of his age-22 season, joining: Alex Rodriguez (3) Ken Griffey Jr (3),” Sarah Langs, an MLB stats expert, tweeted.
Julio Rodríguez is the 3rd Mariners player to make multiple All-Star teams before the end of his age-22 season, joining:
Alex Rodriguez (3)
Ken Griffey Jr (3) https://t.co/sbu0IM9h5N— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 5, 2023
That’s some pretty nice company right there.
Griffey was the star of the nineties in MLB, a player with an incredible set of abilities on a baseball field and incredible power.
Rodriguez was the darling of the late-1990s, a scout’s dream and a player who could also do it all on the field.
Perhaps J-Rod’s power is not as impressive as that of his predecessors, but he is a star in every sense of the word and will be going to his second straight Midsummer Classic.
This year, he is slashing .248/.310/.414 with 13 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 50 runs, and 47 RBI.
He is still shaking off a slow start, and his numbers are slowly catching up to expectations.
The home crowd at T-Mobile Park will get to enjoy J-Rod both in the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game itself.
It should be an electric time to be a baseball fan.
NEXT: Mariners Announce 2 All-Star Game Additions
