Royals 9, Mariners 6 at Surprise Stadium
When a player hits a pair of homers in a game, it is certainly noticed.
And while blasting homers in your first two at-bats of a Cactus League game isn’t unprecedented, when Julio Rodriguez does it, well, Mariners fans pay attention and get excited.
After what was mostly a frustrating 2024 season that didn’t meet his or anyone else’s standards, the Mariners’ young superstar is focused on having a bounceback year in 2025.
Facing Kansas City starter Michael Lorenzen in the top of the first, Rodriguez took a first-pitch fastball above the zone for a ball. The next pitch was a 93-mph fastball just below the top rail of the strike zone. Rodriguez was ready for it, crushing it way up on the berm in left-center way above the 379-foot sign for his first homer of the season. It had a 107-mph exit velocity, but unfortunately, MLB Statcast didn’t register a distance on the blast.
Leading off the third inning against right-hanger Chris Stratton, Rodriguez ambushed a first-pitch slider that stayed over the outer half of the plate. He stayed behind the ball with a swing that produced a back-spinning rocket to right field with a 106-mph exit velocity that just kept climbing and carrying.
So which one was his favorite?
“They were both pretty sweet,” Rodriguez said. “Different pitches, different directions. It was very cool. I think the boys (in the dugout) were a big fan of the oppo one. So I might just say that one.”
Of his four hits this spring, two are doubles and two are homers — all have registered above 105-mph exit velocity.
“I feel good,” he said. “I’m just trying to get good pitches, trying to put good swings on them and trying to bring what I’m practicing into the game. And it’s been feeling good.”
A year ago, Rodriguez was bothered by a sore wrist that limited his reps in his daily hitting progression as well as in games. This year it’s been different.
“I’ve been getting more reps,” he said. “Earlier in spring, it was more live BPs and games. I’m having more at-bats early on. And definitely in that sense, I feel like I’m way ahead on what I did last year.”
It certainly pleased manager Dan Wilson.
“Just a couple of great at-bats,” Wilson said. “And they were nice easy swings. That’s a really good sign for us.”
Rodriguez will be back in the starting lineup in Thursday’s split squad game at the Diamondbacks.
“It helps you get your rhythm,” he said. “I’m used to playing every day during the season and this helps get me ready.”
Rodriguez wasn’t the only player with a big game.
With the Mariners trailing 4-2, Cal Raleigh came to the plate with the bases loaded. He cleared them quickly, lacing a line drive into the right field corner for a double.
“In that situation, he was looking for the pitch he wanted, got it and was able to drive it,” Wilson said.
Bryce Miller gave up a two-run homer to M.J. Melendez on his new cutter, which he said was “wrong pitch to wrong hitter.” His replacement, lefty Brandyn Garcia, allowed an inherited runner to score on a single to Vinnie Pasquantino and hit Hunter Renfroe with the bases loaded. Fellow lefty Tayler Saucedo also struggled, giving up four runs on two hits with a walk and a hit batter to take the loss.
On Tap
The Mariners will be a split squad on Thursday for a pair of night games.
One squad will remain at Peoria Stadium to host the Los Angeles Angels. Right-hander Bryan Woo will make the start for Seattle with right-handers Will Klein, Jesse Hahn, Gregory Santos, Sauryn Lao and Carlos Vargas and lefties Drew Pomeranz and Austin Kitchen scheduled to pitch. Right-hander Liam Hendriks will start for the Angels. First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m. PT. The game will not be televised, but will have a live radio call on Seattle Sports 710-AM and mariners.com.
The other Mariners team will travel to Salt River Fields to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lefty Jhonathan Diaz will start for Seattle with right-handers Luis F. Castillo, Neftali Feliz, Hagen Danner and Tyler Cleveland and lefty Peyton Alford scheduled to pitch. Arizona will start right-hander Merrill Kelly. First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on ROOT Sports as part of bonus coverage on the network
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