Julio Rodriguez’s strong message after an important game against the Orioles in the middle of a cold streak

During this frigid stretch for the Seattle Mariners (48-41), which has seen them lose 10 of their last 14 games, all eyes have been on the equally frigid Julio Rodriguez. The two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger is hitting just .244 with a .296 on-base percentage, a .336 slugging percentage and a .632 OPS, but he and his team have snapped out of their Independence Day slump.

Seattle avoided a sweep at T-Mobile Park against the Baltimore Orioles (55-32) on Thursday, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to score five runs in the seventh inning to clinch a 7-3 victory. Rodriguez hit a 428-foot solo home run in the fifth inning, then sparked the aforementioned run with a leadoff double, a stolen base and a galvanizing release of emotion. After recording just three hits in his last 37 at-bats heading into the series finale, Rodriguez desperately needed this bounce-back outing.

He doesn’t regret the tough times, though. On the contrary, the 23-year-old center fielder is grateful for the hard lessons he learned during this eventful campaign.

“Sometimes you have to go through tough times to wake yourself up,” Rodriguez said, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. “If I start crying or complaining or beating myself up about what happened, I’m not going to fully enjoy the moment. So that’s what I did today … I just went out there and gave it everything I had.”

The 2022 American League Rookie of the Year is staring straight ahead as he and the Mariners attempt to live up to their lofty expectations for the 2024 season. Perhaps this July 4 triumph is the catalyst that will allow this club to reach its peak form.

Mariners must rely on Julio Rodriguez

Although president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto made several roster changes this past offseason, many fans remain skeptical of Seattle’s offense. A lack of reliable at-bats has once again strained the starting rotation to keep the M’s in the playoff race. That uneven foundation was bound to crack eventually, but Julio Rodriguez should minimize the damage.

Instead, he’s been a key part of the Mariners’ offensive woes, allowing Huston’s menacing Astros to move within two games of first place in the American League West. The pressure on him to consistently produce is unfairly great, as the organization has failed to surround him with enough quality contributors. If Rodriguez hits a dry spell, Seattle is likely to suffer the same fate.

Superstars certainly change the trajectory of a franchise, but they alone can’t carry a baseball team into October. The Los Angeles Angels have proven that over the past decade. However, a productive Rodriguez could potentially be the difference between a memorable playoff run and another agonizing end to the regular season.

The team and its fans have waited far too long to squander the opportunity to win a division crown, which would be the Mariners’ first in 23 years. Julio Rodriguez knows what’s at stake and he has the ability and the skills to find his mojo again, just as he did in the second half of last season.

Is this performance against the Orioles the star’s true awakening? Or are a few more naps needed before this young star fully explodes in 2024?