Last night… all eyes in Seattle were on the Cal Raleigh – MVP debate. But right then, something bigger was happening, Quiet… left in the indifference of a segment of Mariners fans…
Seattle woke up this morning to a real earthquake: Julio Rodríguez, just 24, had just extended his career resume that made the entire United States fall — but a group of Mariners fans considered… nothing special.
In the sudden silence, Julio could finish sixth in the MVP race, marking his third top 10 MVP finish in his early career — and even younger than rookie Ben Williamson. Not stopping there, MLB placed the All-MLB Team and Julio was selected to the First Team, alongside two of the world’s top superstars: Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. This is a huge step up from his 2022 All-MLB Second Team.
Please check back to confirm:
3× All-Star
2× Silver Slug
2× All-MLB (including 2025 First Team)
2× 30–30 Club member
3× Top 10 MVP
And… at just 24 years old, he’s still not in his prime.
That’s not a “good” set of accomplishments, but the progress of a complete superstar, by any modern standard.
Yet, while the entire United States was praising him, a group of Mariners fans continued their familiar attacks: calling Julio “overrated,” criticizing him for not being worthy of his $20M/year salary, and even demanding… to send him down to Triple-A after each lucky final game. These toxic comments appeared regularly, to the point that the fansite admin himself had to sigh: “It’s so tiring that after every game Julio isn’t perfect, the anti-fans come pouring out like a waterfall.”
Full control? This same group of fans was also furious when Julio was named an All-Star, but cried out because Cal Raleigh was “disrespected” in the MVP race. The solid stability only created an image of the Mariners community becoming fierce and disconnected.
Meanwhile, those outside Seattle saw it very clearly: Julio Rodríguez is one of the three best midfielders in the world, standing on par with the big-money stars like Judge and Soto. Comparing their skills, it’s clear that the Mariners are getting more out of Julio, both on the field and in brand value — a treat that no other player is lucky enough to have.
Julio has not only lived up to the expectations of a “super-tournament,” but has also consistently produced the kind of high-profile moments that Mariners fans have craved for years. After being left out of the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, he’s finally earned the recognition he deserves with First-Team All-MLB.
The only remaining question — and the most dangerous:
Will Mariners fans be fair enough next year to take their biggest star seriously?
Julio Rodríguez has just shown how special he is. He’s been to Seattle, so he knows it.
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