Center fielder Julio Rodriguez (23, Seattle Mariners) has crossed the long-awaited threshold of joining the 30-30 club.
Rodriguez started as the second hitter and center fielder in the home game against the LA Angels held at T-Mobile Park in Washington, USA on the 12th (Korean time), and swung a heavy hit with 4 hits in 5 at-bats, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. The team lost 5-8 (11 overtimes) after a close overtime game, but showed a unique presence with formidable firepower in each at-bat.
In particular, in the bottom of the 10th inning, when he was down 3-5, with one out and two on second base, he hit a dramatic two-run home run over the center fence to tie the game. With this home run, Rodriguez became the 44th player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and the second member of the 30-30 Club in club history, following Alex Rodriguez (42 home runs, 46 stolen bases) in 1998. It is one of the ‘great records’ that even Ken Griffey Jr., who is considered the best hot hitter in the club’s history, has not been able to surpass. Griffey Jr. has nine seasons with 30 or more home runs, but the most stolen bases in a season is only 24.
MLB’s official website MLB.com said, ‘Rodriguez, who hit 9 home runs in the last 14 games, is the fourth player in history to have a 30-30 season under the age of 22, following Ronald Acuna Jr. (2019), Mike Trout (2012), and Alex Rodriguez (1998). Focused on ‘player’.안전놀이터
Rodriguez, who is from the Dominican Republic, debuted in the big league last year and recorded a batting average of 0.284 (145 hits in 511 at-bats) with 28 home runs and 75 RBIs. He rose to superstardom by winning the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award. Seattle, which highly valued his value, signed a large contract extension worth up to $470 million (623.7 billion won) in August last year.
His performance this season also remains unchanged. He appeared in 137 games, leading Seattle’s batting average with a batting average of .287 (168 hits in 585 at-bats), 30 home runs, 97 RBI, and 36 stolen bases. The OPS, which includes the on-base percentage (0.342) and slugging percentage (0.504), is 0.846, which is high. His batting average in his last 30 games is 0.406 (56 hits in 138 at-bats).