As baseball’s best players descended on Los Angeles for All-Star Game festivities in July, one burgeoning young standout had their attention most of all.
Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners’ exhilarating, ebullient 21-year-old center fielder, had powered Seattle to a 14-game win streak through the break, vaulting the Mariners from a sub-.500 record to wild card position in the American League.
The young Dominican shook off a slow start to earn an all-star selection as a rookie, showcasing a remarkable blend of power, speed and personality to captivate the city of Seattle and make the Mariners appointment viewing from coast to coast.
Rodriguez had been a major leaguer for barely three months by the time the All-Star Game rolled around. That was all the time he needed to earn the highest compliment possible from the game’s most decorated player.
“He plays the game the right way,” said Angels center fielder Mike Trout, the threetime American League MVP. “He’s always having fun on the bench. He reminds of myself kind of when I first came up.”
Rodriguez made that comparison look remarkably plausible in his major league debut this year. He became the fastest rookie to reach 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases, beating Trout’s record by three games, and he finished the year with 28 homers and 25 steals. He became a staple of nightly highlight reels with his play in center field, showing speed and agility that exceeded even the most bullish projections held for him.
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Baseball America.
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Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
ROAD BLOCK?
Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha
ROYALS REVIVAL
A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound
SUMMER STANDOUTS
The top prospects in summer college leagues are poised to impact the 2025 draft
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Last year’s Florida Complex League prospect crop has been beset by lengthy injuries to many of its top players, including Yankees pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange, Mets infielder Marco Vargas and Red Sox catcher Johanfran Garcia.
IN WITH THE NEW
The 2024 draft is in the books. The trade deadline is history.
WALCOTT BLASTS OFF
It took some time for Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott to find his footing at High-A Hickory.
A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS
Four key takeaways from the 2024 draft
K.C.MASTERPIECE
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. wins games for the Royals with his bat, glove, speed and baseball IQ. He might be the most tooled-up player in the game.
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.
