Just a year ago, Julio Rodríguez was the target of disapproval. His 2024 season wasn’t disastrous, but it clearly fell short of expectations. Home runs dropped sharply. His impact in big moments was weaker than usual. A young star was suddenly being questioned.
And then Julio did what truly exceptional players do: he came back and erased that bad memory.
The 2025 season was a direct response. No fuss, no fanfare — just top-level performance. Rodríguez finished the season with slash lines of .267/.324/.474, not outwardly different in AVG and OBP, but the real jump was in slugging. After hitting only 20 home runs the previous year, Julio exploded with 32 home runs, putting him back in the group of players capable of changing games with a single swing.
That comeback wasn’t just about restoring his personal image; it propelled the Seattle Mariners forward.
Rodríguez was central to the Mariners’ deepest run in over two decades. Seattle made it to the ALCS, only stopping short against the Toronto Blue Jays in a tense series. While they didn’t reach the World Series, that journey marked a crucial point: the Mariners were no longer a “building team.” They were a truly competitive team—and Julio was the heart of that process.
Recognition followed quickly. The MLB Network named Julio Rodríguez the best outfielder in all of MLB—an iconic title. It reflected not just the statistics, but how he dominated the game: offense, defense, base running, and the pressure he exerted on every pitcher facing him.
Rodríguez even received the AL MVP award, finishing sixth overall. Not a title, but a clear sign that he was back in the biggest race of his individual career.
And this is where the story gets more interesting.
Analyst Jon Morosi isn’t just looking at what Julio has done—he’s looking at what’s to come. On Wyman and Bob, Morosi bluntly called Rodríguez an early candidate for MVP 2026.
The reason isn’t a good season. It’s his age and trajectory. Julio is only 25. At an age when many players are still on the prospect list, he has years of MLB experience, has experienced both peaks and periods of doubt, and is entering a phase where talent and experience begin to perfectly intertwine.
In other words: Julio Rodríguez is entering his true prime.
If 2024 was a wake-up call, then 2025 is a reaffirmation. And if Morosi is right, 2026 could be the year Julio not just “comes back,” but dominates the game—in the way true superstars do.
The Mariners know it. MLB has confirmed it. The rest of the league may not be ready — but Julio Rodríguez is.
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