SEATTLE MARINERS TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. JULIO RODRIGUEZ, OF
AGE: 20. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-3. WT: 205. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2017. SIGNED BY: Eddy Toledo/Tim Kissner
TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez signed with the Mariners during the 2017 international period for $1.75 million. After starting his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2018, Rodriguez jumped to full-season ball for his first U.S. experience and put up strong numbers at both low Class A West Virginia and high Class A Modesto despite missing nearly two months with a broken left hand. Rodriguez was anything but intimidated by more advanced California League pitchers, batting .462/.514/.738 in 17 games with the Nuts and earning hyperbolic praise from league observers. Rodriguez suffered a hairline fracture in his left wrist diving for a ball during summer camp in 2020 and sat out most of the summer recovering. He made up for lost time with a strong instructional league stint in the fall before reporting to Escogido of the Dominican League.
Rodriguez is a precocious physical specimen often referred to as a “manchild.” His elite bat speed and quick hands allow balls off his bat to register big exit velocities—he peaked at 111 mph during instructional league—and his swing takes a solid path through the zone. He has an excellent feel to hit and an advanced ability to make adjustments at the plate. With his natural hitting ability and comically easy plus-plus raw power, he projects to be a plus hitter capable of hitting 30-35 home runs per year with power to all fields. As Rodriguez continues to mature in his already-strong body, he
