The Seattle Mariners have been struggling to find success in recent years, and one of the players they have been relying on to help turn things around is veteran outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Unfortunately, Rodriguez has not been able to deliver when the team needs him the most.
Rodriguez was acquired by the Mariners in a trade with the New York Mets in 2017, and he has been a mainstay in the lineup ever since. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also been unable to consistently produce in key situations. In 2020, Rodriguez hit .245 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 57 games. While these numbers are not terrible, they are far from what the Mariners were hoping for when they acquired him.
The biggest issue for Rodriguez has been his inability to come through in clutch situations. He has struggled to hit with runners in scoring position and has often been unable to drive in runs when the team needs it the most. This lack of production has been especially frustrating for the Mariners, as they have been unable to capitalize on opportunities to win games.
The Mariners are hoping that Rodriguez can turn things around and become a more reliable contributor in 2021. He has shown signs of improvement in spring training, but it remains to be seen if he can carry that over into the regular season. If he can, then the Mariners may finally have the offensive spark they need to get back into contention.
It is clear that Julio Rodriguez has the potential to be an important part of the Mariners’ success, but he needs to start delivering when it matters most. If he can do that, then the Mariners may finally be able to turn things around and get back into contention.
