Julio Rodriguez agrees to participate in Home Run Derby inside home stadium
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez has become the first player to commit to the Home Run Derby, which will take place in his home city ahead of this year’s MLB All-Star Game.
Rodriguez made the announcement on Twitter Friday.
“This probably will never happen again in my career — being able to do that for them at the home field definitely will be something that I’m looking forward to,” Rodriguez told reporters, via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. “I’m definitely going to try to do my best for them.”
Rodriguez, 22, participated in last year’s Home Run Derby, finishing runner-up to San Diego Padres outfielder and fellow Dominican Republic native Juan Soto despite bashing 81 homers. Rodriguez’s 81 home runs are the second-most all-time in a single Derby, only topped by Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit 91 in 2019.
“That was so fun. That was so, so fun. I can definitely say that my family enjoyed it the most,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve been with me since I was a little kid. Being able to see me back there [at home] taking BP and then seeing me do it in front of 40,000 people. I know they definitely enjoyed it the most.”
Rodriguez will become the first Mariner to participate in the Derby in back-to-back seasons since Ken Griffey Jr. The Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder did it for three straight years — 1997 to ’99. He won it in ‘98 and ‘99.
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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts recently said he would take part in the event if selected as a National League All-Star. The event will feature eight competitors and take place on July 10 at T-Mobile Park.
Julio Rodriguez off to slow start in 2023
Following the Home Run Derby, Rodriguez went on to capture American League Rookie of the Year honors and lead the Mariners to their first playoff appearance since 2001. Seattle rewarded him with a contract extension worth at least $210 million over 12 years.
Rodriguez has been slow out of the gates in 2023, slashing .243/.305/.424 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI in 73 games. He’s added 17 stolen bases to go along with a 106 OPS+.