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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 05: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a RBI double against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning in game two of the Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez is off to by far the best start he’s had in a season during his career. JustBaseballMedia pointed out an interesting anecdote about Rodriguez’s incredible season thus far.
Julio Rodriguez through May 11th in:
2022: .254 AVG | .657 OPS | 94 wRC+ 2023: .205 AVG | .654 OPS | 84 wRC+ 2024: .247 AVG | .591 OPS | 78 wRC+ 2025: .228 AVG | .711 OPS | 106 wRC+ 2026: .274 AVG | .790 OPS | 127 wRC+
J-Rod is off to BY FAR the hottest start of his career 🔱
In Rodriguez’s incredible rookie season, in which he posted 6.2 Baseball Reference WAR, on May 11th, he was sitting at a .657 OPS and a 94 WRC+.
Similarly, in 2024, Rodriguez held a 78 wRC+ on May 11th.
This season, Rodriguez held a .790 OPS and a 127 wRC+ when May came around. If career trends hold firm, ‘J-Rod’ could be on track for a historical season.
Here’s what people are saying about Rodriguez’s impressive start:
Baseball Performances: “Julio Rodriguez is off to the hottest start of his career. .277 AVG | 7 HR | 22 Runs | 129 OPS+.”
JustBaseballMedia: “Julio Rodriguez in his last 15 games: 21-for-62 (.339 AVG), 6 HR, 11 RBI, .359 OBP, .710 SLG, 1.069 OPS. On FIRE.”
Dynasty Junkie: “Julio Rodriquez Frequent slow starter Opening Day -> May 11th, wRC+ 2022: 94 wRC+ 2023: 84 2024: 78 2025: 106 2026: 122 (not including tonight’s dinger & single).”
King 5 Sports: “Seattle Mariners all-star Julio Rodriguez is off to his best start in his career! Are they MVP numbers? @paulsilvi and @ChrisEgan5 talk about it on the Ultimate Seattle Sports Show.”
oBAWanKenobi: “Julio Rodríguez heater is now official! He rockets his 7th HR of the season in Houston off of Peter Lambert that adds to a Mariners lead. A solo blast. 106.6 mph EV, 414 FT, 28 LA, 77.8 mph bat speed, A HR in 30/30 MLB Ballparks, #TridentsUp.”
LouisAnalysis: “Julio Rodriguez since April 19th: 18 G, .347 BA, .380 OBP, .980 OPS, 5 HR, 2 SB, 45.9% Hard-Hit%, 107.5 MPH EV90, 9.8% Barrel%, 170 wrc+. His K% is down to 17.7% over this stretch – a 5% decrease compared to his full-season K%.”
Even with Rodriguez’s strong start, the Mariners offense is struggling.
Seattle has the fifth most strikeouts as a team in baseball and ranks below average in hits and batting average. An offense built on consistency has floundered in the early going.
Brendan Donovan, a 2025 All-Star and Gold Glove winner, was brought in from St. Louis to address the top of the lineup. Long-time Mariners’ shortstop J.P. Crawford had been filling in at the top of the lineup and wasn’t quite meeting expectations. Donovan got off to a raging start and ended up on the injured list for an extended time. His injury added fuel to the early season fire that’s held the Mariners below .500.
In addition to the offensive woes, the M’s have had lackluster performances from multiple pitchers thus far. Closer Andres Munoz has imploded multiple times to begin the year and currently holds a 5.63 ERA. Logan Gilbert, the proverbial ‘ace’ of the staff, has a respectable 3.78 ERA, but hasn’t pitched like his usually dominant self. The pitching staff was supposed to be a major strength for Seattle, rather it’s hamstrung their young star’s dynamic start.
All of these shortcomings have led the Mariners to a 21-22 record through 43 games. The disappointing start comes in the midst of J-Rod’s best first leg to a season in his young career. If the superstar were to slow up, Seattle may be on the brink of implosion.
AJ Stone AJ Stone is a baseball writer for Heavy, covering MLB news and various trends. His work has also appeared on Redbird Rants, Inside Halos, District on Deck, and other digital outlets. With a focus on analytics, he aims to blend data with storytelling for an engaging experience for his readers. More about AJ Stone
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