As MLB’s All-Star 7 days approaches, some followers are seeking forward to the Dwelling Operate Derby. With Seattle internet hosting the party, the to start with player to enter his name in the Dwelling Run Derby is somebody close to Mariners fans’ hearts.
MLB confirmed that Julio Rodríguez, the 2022 AL Rookie of the 12 months, will officially take section in the Property Operate Derby as the hometown favorite. Last calendar year, Rodríguez took the league by storm, blasting 28 residence runs in 132 games on his way to that Rookie of the Calendar year award, turning into the fourth Mariner to earn the award since 2000.
Rodríguez produced heritage at the very least year’s Derby, hitting 81 overall house runs—the 2nd-highest mark by a participant all-time for a one event—and falling a person homer short of Juan Soto in the closing round.
🚨 J-ROD IS IN THE DERBY 🚨@JRodShow44 is the first confirmed participant in the @TMobile #HRDerby! pic.twitter.com/kWE97KnvId
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2023
No Mariner has received the Dwelling Operate Derby because Ken Griffey Jr., who did so a few instances in the 1990s. Very last time the All-Star Match was in Seattle, Bret Boone represented the Mariners but shed to Luis Gonzalez in the celebration.
So considerably this 12 months, Rodríguez has 12 household runs but just a .715 OPS, so there is no guarantee that he tends to make the All-Star Video game. However, following climbing to star-amount attractiveness past year, and because he’s nevertheless the best hitter in the Mariners lineup, he is the most logical alternative to depict Seattle at the Residence Operate Derby.