Julio Rodriguez, Dominican 8th Rookie of the Year
Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez (22) was greeted by fans in his hometown.
Rodriguez, from the Dominican Republic, joined Seattle in 2017 through an international amateur free agent. Rodriguez, a five-tool player with long batting power, contact ability, base running, defense, and throwing ability. After maturing in the minor leagues, he stood on the big league stage in 2022.
Rodriguez fluttered beyond belief in his debut season. In 132 games, he recorded 145 hits, 28 home runs, 75 RBIs, 84 runs, 25 steals, and a .284 slugging percentage, 0.509 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage), 0.854. Home runs were the most hit among rookies, and RBIs, runs scored, and steals ranked second and third.
Rodriguez, who had a spectacular rookie season, won the American League Rookie of the Year award. Twenty-nine out of 30 first-place votes were received, and one second-place vote was added to receive overwhelming support with 148 points. He is the fifth Seattle player to win the Rookie of the Year award after Alvin Davis in 1984, Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, Ichiro Suzuki in 2001, and Kyle Lewis in 2020.
Rodriguez became the eighth recipient of the Dominican Republic Rookie of the Year award. And on the day Rodriguez returned home, countless fans gathered to see the Rookie of the Year award. The official Major League website MLB.com said on the 22nd (Korea Standard Time), “Rodriggs visited his hometown for the first time since entering the Major League last week.” A large-scale celebration was held for him,” he said.
A car parade was held, and a festival was held late in the evening. Rodriguez thanked the fans by moving in a car, and spent precious time with the fans by dancing on stage.