'Built to play,' J-Rod homers in first AB back

SEATTLE -- With one big swing, Julio Rodríguez put all the panic over his sore left wrist to bed in an emphatic return to the lineup on Tuesday night, swatting a 374-foot home run in his first at-bat after missing the Mariners’ first four games of the second half.

“I was not built to watch baseball, man. I was built to play it,” Rodríguez said. “That’s all I can say.”

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That moment out of the leadoff spot in the first inning helped send Seattle on its way to a 5-4 win over Texas at T-Mobile Park. Carlos Santana hit a walk-off sacrifice fly, scoring Cal Raleigh in the bottom of the ninth, just after Rodríguez was intentionally walked by the Rangers to help set up what they believed would be a more favorable matchup.

Raleigh’s run was delayed after the Rangers challenged that his foot was not on third base when the ball landed in center fielder Leodys Taveras’ glove, but replay review confirmed the incredibly close calls, both at third base and the plate.

But back to Rodríguez, who has reiterated throughout this breakout season that he sets no limits for himself. Yet even he couldn’t believe his first-inning heroics, racing around the bases with a massive grin while shrugging his shoulders. The Mariners’ dugout, amped up, also mirrored the gesture in an organic moment of reaction.

“I said literally just that before the game, I basically said, ‘Man, if I hit a home run right now, it’s going to be really funny, and I’m honestly just going to laugh around the bases,’” Rodríguez said. “And then when it happened, I was like, ‘Wow. It actually happened.’”

The AL Rookie of the Year Award favorite hadn’t played in a week -- since the All-Star Game. One day earlier, he put on an electric performance in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, when he swatted 81, finished runner-up to Juan Soto and inspired awe in a coming-out-party on a national stage. But he also aggravated the wrist injury that he suffered sliding headfirst on a stolen-base attempt during the final game of the first half.

Rodríguez’s health had been the talk of the town after he missed the entire weekend sweep by the Astros, when the club clearly needed him, then Monday’s win over Texas -- and his dramatic return underscored why.

“I’m not surprised at this point,” said Raleigh, who had a prime view from the dugout. “It’s amazing what that guy is doing. When he hit it, I was just shaking my head in amazement. I mean, I almost expect it at this point. It’s crazy.”

In a 2-2 count against Rangers starter Dane Dunning, Rodríguez yanked an 80.5 mph slider that bled low-and-in instead of away, which put it right in the rookie’s wheelhouse. Rodríguez has shown elite all-field ability and impressive plate coverage on the outer half, yet his most optimal power is pull-side.

Opposing pitchers know this, too, as Rodríguez entered the day with 50.6% of the pitches against him breaking balls and offspeed, making him one of just 22 qualified hitters being dealt secondary stuff more than half the time.

“That's how people go after him,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “But if you make a mistake, you're going to pay -- because he's got that kind of power.”

As impressive as the homer was, the intentional walk more effectively highlighted the threat that Rodríguez represents in crucial moments. With one out and Raleigh on third, the Rangers opted to put both Rodríguez and Ty France on for free to create the force plays and roll the dice against Santana, the 36-year-old veteran with plus plate discipline built for those moments.

“That's my man right there,” Rodríguez said of his fellow Dominican countryman and mentor Santana. “Just seeing him, basically they walked [France] thinking that was the best chance for them, but just seeing him like show them that’s not really how it is, and winning the game right there. I feel like it was pretty special.”

Just two days after a deflating weekend against the Astros, Rodríguez and the Mariners are on the cusp of a sweep of Texas. And his return is a huge reason why.