The sailors announced that they had set Julio Rodriguez In the list of injured for 10 days with strain in the lower back. Remember Seattle Taylor Trammell From Triple-A Tacoma to take the active roster spot vacated.
Rodriguez had back pain for a few days, and the problem was serious enough that the club sent him for an MRI this afternoon. Director Scott Service told reporters this evening that team physicians were still evaluating imaging results before deciding whether an IL assignment would be necessary (via Adam Judd of The Seattle Times). No further details have been clarified about Rodriguez’s condition, but it is clear that the problem is serious enough and will cost him at least a week and a half.
There are 12 days left in the regular season, so it is possible that Rodriguez will be back by the start of the next season. Needless to say, M would definitely be better off if he could get back in time for the opening round of qualifying. With a four-game cushion over the Orioles for the last Wild Card spot in the MLS, the Mariners are in a strong position to secure their first berth after the season in more than two decades. Embarking on a long playoff would certainly be more difficult without the AL Rookie of the Year nominee, as Rodríguez is already Seattle’s best player.
During his first campaign, Rodríguez linked 27 home runs and 25 base thefts. He’s the only player in the majors to actually have over 25 steals each, and has a .280/ .342/ .502 total streak through 549 board backs. Rodríguez has paired this excellent offensive production with an above-average field defense in establishing himself among the sport’s top young stars.
Any time Rodriguez is out, the Mariners are gearing up to head out to one of the former best potential players on the field. Jared Kielnik He has yet to establish himself as a regular in the league, and his .170/.250/.340 streak has over 504 appearances on the MLB board. Sixth in the general selection and likely consensus as recently as 23 years old, however, he earned a .295/.365/.557 clip in 86 games in Tacoma this year. Servais confirmed that Kielnik will be the daily midfielder as long as Rodriguez is out (good link).
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