Seattle Mariners Activate Franchise Star Julio Rodriguez From Injured List
![Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez smiles after a single against the Los Angeles Angels on July 13 at Angel Stadium. Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez smiles after a single against the Los Angeles Angels on July 13 at Angel Stadium.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6699,h_3768,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_mariners/01j51gnp9mtb23yr0qgm.jpg)
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners got their franchise star back.
The Mariners officially activated Julio Rodriguez off the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Ryan Bliss to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move ahead of the team's Sunday Night Baseball clash against the New York Mets.
Rodriguez has been out with a high ankle sprain that he suffered on July 21 against the Houston Astros. Rodriguez was hurt trying to make a play on a fly ball and collided with the wall in the outfield.
Julio Rodriguez has exited with an injury after crashing into the wall
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024
He walked off with the help of a trainer, but was able to put some weight on it pic.twitter.com/X34SXbKKzb
ESPN's Buster Olney first reported that Rodriguez was expected to be activated on Sunday morning.
Mariners All-Star Julio Rodriguez is expected to be activated and back in the Seattle lineup Sunday, serving as the designated hitter. Seattle is set to play the Mets on Sunday Night Baseball.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 11, 2024
Rodriguez suffered a high ankle sprain on July 21st, while making a play against the…
Subsequent reports from the Seattle Times' Adam Jude said that Rodriguez would test out his ankle pregame and would be activated if everything went well.
Jude also reported that Rodriguez went up to team officials after Seattle's win on Friday against the Mets and "expressed his desire" to be in the starting lineup on Sunday.
Rodriguez still isn't 100% in his recovery and doesn't have full ability in running and linear moves. He'll be used as a designated hitter for Sunday against New York.
Rodriguez was batting .263 with 11 home runs in 37 RBIs in 100 games before his injury. He was hitting .375 with four home runs and eight RBIs in July before he got hurt.
When Rodriguez will be in the lineup — it will be an almost brand-new offense than what it was when he injured.
Since Rodriguez got hurt — the Mariners traded for Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner. Victor Robles was just starting to find his stride with the offense when Rodriguez went down. He's been filling in at center field for Rodriguez and is now the de facto lead-off man for Seattle.
It will be interesting to see how Rodriguez does coming off such a long layoff with a brand new offense.
But Rodriguez is back. And that makes the latest edition of Sunday Night Baseball more intriguing than it already was.
Related Stories on Seattle Mariners
JULIO REPORTED TO RETURN: According to a report from Buster Olney of ESPN, Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez will be back in action for the M's on Sunday night as they take on the New York Mets. CLICK HERE
RODRIGUEZ EXITS GAME WITH INJURY: Seattle Mariners franchise star Julio Rodriguez exited Sunday's game against the Houston Astros after colliding with the wall in left-center field on a Yordan Alvarez triple in the top of the sixth. CLICK HERE
MARINERS GM PROVIDES INJURY UPDATE: Seattle Mariners General Manager Justin Hollander gave some injury updates on JP Crawford, Julio Rodriguez, Dominic Canzone and others ahead of Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. CLICK HERE
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