Julio Rodriguez, the center fielder for the Seattle Mariners, had to leave the game early against the Toronto Blue Jays. This happened after just the first inning, and he didn’t even get a chance to bat. The reason for his sudden departure was not immediately clear. It was mentioned that Rodriguez had injured his right thumb during Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles and was also struggling with a knee issue on Friday.
In the game against the Blue Jays, Rodriguez, who is 23 years old, was originally in the lineup batting fourth. However, due to his exit, Luke Raley had to move from first base to center field to take his place. Ty France came in to play first base in the second inning and also took Rodriguez’s spot in the batting order. Even though he didn’t get to bat, France did have an at-bat in the game and flew out in the bottom of the second inning.
Rodriguez had been going through a bit of a rough patch recently, with only 7 hits in his last 56 at-bats and no extra-base hits or RBIs. However, he showed signs of breaking out of that slump in Thursday’s game against the Orioles. He had a strong performance with 2 hits, including a home run, a double, a stolen base, and 2 runs scored. In the game against the Blue Jays on Friday, he added another hit and scored a run, bringing his season batting average to .247 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs in 90 games.
Despite his recent struggles, Rodriguez’s potential and talent are undeniable. Mariners fans will be hoping that his early exit from the game was just a precautionary measure and that he will be back on the field soon, continuing to contribute to the team’s success. Stay tuned for updates on his condition and when he might return to the lineup.