SEATTLE — Then just halfway through his rookie season, Julio Rodríguez introduced himself to the broader baseball world at last year’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles. And, generally speaking, the baseball world was smitten. He left the Midsummer Classic a superstar and went on to secure AL Rookie of the Year honors.
A year later, with the All-Star Game on his home turf, it seemed like you couldn't go a block in downtown Seattle without seeing his face. Suffice it to say, the people who have seen him play are fans.
“I feel like a lot of people say a lot of nice things,” Rodríguez said this week when asked about the best compliment he has ever gotten on his game.