Julio Rodríguez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Seattle Mariners young star, Julio Rodriguez, blasted his first home run of the 2025 season on Sunday against left-handed pitcher JP Sears. His two-run home run proved to be enough to help the Mariners secure a 2-1 victory and split their four-game series against the Athletics to open the 2025 campaign. Rodriguez is off to a slow start to the year, going 2-for-12 with three walks, two stolen bases, and six strikeouts, so hopefully, this home run can get him some confidence going into their next series against the Detroit Tigers. Fantasy managers can continue to start Rodriguez in all formats, as the 24-year-old is looking to bounce back from a poor 2024 season, where he only hit 20 home runs compared to 28 and 32 in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (illness) is starting in center field and batting second in Friday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds. Rodriguez is back in spring training action after taking a couple days off this week due to an illness. After a down year by his standards in 2024, the 24-year-old outfielder is currently hitting just .229 with three home runs in 13 Cactus League games in Arizona. The two-time All-Star, former American League Rookie of the Year and two-time Silver Slugger winner had a career-low .734 OPS in 2024 but still managed 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 143 games played in his third year in the league. However, he posted only 68 RBI after driving in over 100 runs in 2023. A bounce-back year in 2025 is entirely possible for J-Rod, who is still a top-10 fantasy outfielder.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (illness) was scratched from Monday's Cactus League lineup against the division-rival Athletics due to an illness. Luke Raley is taking over in center field for the M's and will bat fifth in the lineup. Rodriguez should be considered day-to-day for now, but he shouldn't have any issues recovering in time for Opening Day next Thursday. The 24-year-old All-Star outfielder has gone 8-for-35 (.229) with three home runs, three doubles, 11 RBI, one steal and five runs scored in 13 spring training games to this point. J-Rod, who was an All-Star in both of his first two seasons in the big leagues, was a disappointment to fantasy managers in his third year in 2024, although he still finished with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 143 games. He could easily bounce back in 2025 and is a surefire top-10 fantasy outfielder.