The Seattle Mariners spent the last week and a half holding their breath. Julio Rodriguez went down with a concussion on July 2 after a collision in a 1-0 win over the Angels, and the team put him on the 7-day injured list almost immediately. That kind of injury is always tricky, especially for a guy who plays as aggressively as Rodriguez does. You never really know how recovery will go until the symptoms clear.
But now, with the All-Star break officially here, the organization got news it wanted to hear. According to MLB.com, Rodriguez is expected to return shortly after the break. The hope inside the clubhouse is that he could be back in the lineup by Friday, July 17, when Seattle opens the second half against the San Francisco Giants.
Dan Wilson sounds optimistic
Mariners manager Dan Wilson told reporters on July 12 that Rodriguez has been ramping up his baseball activities in Seattle. “All signs are pointing to” a return for the first game out of the break, Wilson said. That’s about as direct as you get from a manager on a concussion timeline without making a promise the front office might not want to keep.
The team has gone 3-6 without their star outfielder. That stretch hurt, especially because the AL West is tight. Seattle sits just 1.5 games back of the Texas Rangers for first place. Every game matters, and having a three-time All-Star in the middle of the order makes a real difference down the stretch.
What Rodriguez was doing before the injury
Rodriguez wasn’t having the kind of monster season people have come to expect, but he was still solid. Through the concussion, he was hitting .259 with a .323 on-base percentage, 89 hits, 14 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. Those numbers are fine. They’re not MVP-level, but they’re also not something the Mariners can just replace off the scrap heap.
The bigger thing is what he means to the lineup. Pitchers have to account for him. He changes how teams defend. And in a division race this tight, having that presence back in the box matters more than the raw stats.
The All-Star break runs from Monday through Tuesday, with the Home Run Derby on July 13 and the game itself on July 14 at 5 p.m. EST. Rodriguez won’t be there, obviously. But Mariners fans will get to watch Randy Arozarena, who was named a reserve for the American League. That’s something, at least.
For now, Seattle just needs to survive a few more days. Then their star comes back.
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