Why Mariners should be worried about Julio Rodriguez long-term
This trend for the Mariners star outfielder is very worrying.
The Seattle Mariners have struggled in an underwhelming 2026 season, and outfielder Julio Rodriguez bears much of the blame. ESPN's David Schoenfield revealed concerning statistics that suggest Rodriguez's issues may not be limited to this year. His batting average and on-base percentage have declined each season, with no improvement year-over-year.
Rodriguez's batting average dropped from .284 in his rookie season to a disappointing .245 in 2026. His on-base percentage also showed a consistent decline, from .345 in his first year to .306 this season. Despite his efforts to stay a positive contributor on offense, posting a .708 OPS with a 104 OPS+, the steady decline in his offensive numbers is a cause for concern.
Additionally, Rodriguez's defensive regression has been significant, with a shift from plus-9 runs saved last season to minus-4 runs saved this season. The Mariners should be worried about Rodriguez's long-term performance, as these trends are not a good sign for the young outfielder maintaining his star-level production.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
