Watch: Mariners star homers before robbing a long ball in CF
During the Seattle Mariners' tilt with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon, phenom Julio Rodriguez reminded why he is one of the game's most exciting players, smashing a home run before robbing another the following inning.
After recording his 13th longball of the season in the sixth inning, Rodriguez closed out the seventh with a spectacular catch in centerfield, robbing O's first baseman Ryan O'Hearn of a two-run shot.
With the Mariners trailing 4-3, Rodriguez leaped to take away a no-doubt long ball, finishing with a pirouette off the wall before sticking the landing. The thievery in center left O'Hearn stunned, as all he could do was rest his hands atop his helmet in awe.
Rodriguez opened the sixth with a homer off Orioles starter Dean Kremer. The 22-year-old turned on the first pitch he saw, smoking a 107.4 MPH line drive over the left-centerfield wall.
The reigning American League Rookie of the Year, Rodriguez hasn't equaled last year's breakout as of yet, slashing .237/.301/.411 through 72 games. Entering play Saturday, though, Rodriguez was second on the Mariners in home runs (12), behind only Teoscar Hernandez (14), and third in hits (71) and RBI (40). A Silver Slugger Award winner in 2022, Rodriguez might need to make room for a Gold Glove after Saturday's outrageous play.
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