J-Rod looking to play hometown hero in ’23 HR Derby

n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”The 22-year-old Mariners star announced Friday via social media that he will take part in this year’s event at T-Mobile Park. He’s the first official participant among the eight-player field set to take the stage on Monday, July 10.nn* 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-06-11T02:50:24.578Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/10/403c89c6-8afaa229-70f54efa-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Julio Rodríguez demolishes a two-run home run to left field, scoring J.P. Crawford and giving the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:26″,”slug”:”julio-rodriguez-homers-12-on-a-fly-ball-to-center-field-j-p-crawford-scor”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2023″,”title”:”Season 2023″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-677594″,”title”:”Julio Rodriguez”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:677594″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-136″,”title”:”Seattle Mariners”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:136″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”hitting”,”title”:”hitting”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”2-yahoo-mlb-ads-feed”,”title”:”2-Yahoo MLB Ads Feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”yahoo-in-game”,”title”:”Yahoo In-Game”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”most-valuable-performances”,”title”:”Most Valuable Performances”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/crhgtmpj0akfpbp0mons”},”title”:”Rodríguez’s two-run homer (12)”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/julio-rodriguez-homers-12-on-a-fly-ball-to-center-field-j-p-crawford-scor”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Rodríguez had long seemed destined for this Derby since Seattle was awarded this year’s Midsummer Classic in September 2021, well before he debuted in the Majors seven months later.nnBack then, he’d already exhibited the kind of power, charisma and flair as the franchise’s most prominent face of the future — and he went on to live up to those lofty expectations en route to winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award last season, with the Derby arguably his biggest individual highlight in a year full of them.nnHis quick ascent, his performance last year and that the host city typically always has a representative in the sport’s premier power event made him a strong candidate to be invited.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2022-07-19T02:11:30.889Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-07/18/29e74e73-1cd0dc01-7c785a97-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Julio Rodríguez hits 31 Round 2 home runs to knock off reigning champion Pete Alonso in the 2022 T-Mobile Home Run Derby”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:07:04″,”slug”:”rodriguez-s-31-round-2-home-runs”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-136″,”title”:”Seattle Mariners”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:136″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-677594″,”title”:”Julio Rodriguez”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:677594″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run-derby”,”title”:”Home Run Derby”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”all-star”,”title”:”All-Star”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/kmlkvsdiwrrurfmylaaa”},”title”:”Rodríguez’s 31 Round 2 home runs”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/rodriguez-s-31-round-2-home-runs”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”The last time it was held in Seattle, in 2001, Bret Boone competed. The Derby didn’t exist the only other year in which the Emerald City hosted the Midsummer Classic, in 1979 at the Kingdome.nnWith Boone, who also participated in 2003, Rodríguez is one of just seven Mariners participants all-time, along with Jay Buhner (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Edgar Martinez (2000), Robinson Canó (2016) and — of course — Ken Griffey Jr., who did it a whopping seven times and is the [only three-time winner](https://www.mlb.com/news/players-to-win-multiple-home-run-derby-titles).”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”1998-07-06T23:01:00Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-08/23/01d3f1a7-0a9ed1b0-098b29dd-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Mariners center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. takes home the 1998 Home Run Derby crown at Coors Field, his second career Derby win”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:54″,”slug”:”griffey-jr-wins-98-hr-derby-c1588844983″,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-115135″,”title”:”Ken Griffey Jr.”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:115135″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-136″,”title”:”Seattle Mariners”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:136″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”hbmig-team-id-136″,”title”:”HBmig Seattle Mariners”,”type”:”unsupported”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run-derby”,”title”:”Home Run Derby”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”classic”,”title”:”classic”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/mjmka1bnipmmei7390ah”},”title”:”Griffey Jr. wins ’98 HR Derby”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/griffey-jr-wins-98-hr-derby-c1588844983″},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Rodríguez has Derby experience, but he’ll still be among the event’s youngest all time. At 22 years, 6 months, 12 days on July 10, Rodríguez would be the youngest Derby winner, besting Juan González, who was 23 years and 265 days old when he won in 1993. Juan Soto, who edged Rodríguez last year, [is the second-youngest](https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-wins-2022-mlb-home-run-derby) by just one day (23 years, 266 days).nnSpeaking of last year, Soto might’ve taken home the hardware, but Rodríguez was easily the event’s biggest star. He knocked out two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, and by virtue of the round-by-round formatting, Rodríguez hit 28 more total homers than Soto, 81 to 53, though Soto outpaced Rodríguez in the final round, 19 to 18.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2022-07-19T00:50:46.253Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-07/18/ca31e73a-12f3500c-36ee5aec-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Julio Rodríguez opens the first round of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby with a 463-ft. smash, his longest home run of the round”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:41″,”slug”:”julio-rodriguez-s-463-ft-homer”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-136″,”title”:”Seattle Mariners”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:136″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-677594″,”title”:”Julio Rodriguez”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:677594″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run-derby”,”title”:”Home Run Derby”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”all-star”,”title”:”All-Star”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ivvzmpkcvmxy6aobfxam”},”title”:”Julio Rodríguez’s 463-ft. homer”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/julio-rodriguez-s-463-ft-homer”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”When Rodríguez [announced](https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-rodriguez-enters-2022-home-run-derby) that he was participating last year as a rookie, he’d [already been selected](https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/julio-rodriguez-selected-to-2022-mlb-all-star-game) to the All-Star Game. That’s not the case this year, at least yet. He didn’t advance to Phase 2 of All-Star voting, which begins Monday, but it’s still possible he can get in via other avenues.nnRodríguez entered Friday hitting .238/.300/.415 (.715 OPS) with 12 homers. He’s had some huge moments in his sophomore season while also experiencing more inconsistencies at the plate, an up-and-down trajectory that has mirrored the overall showing of the Mariners, who are in fourth place in the AL West and have hovered around .500 for most of the year.”,”type”:”text”}],”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”NEW YORK — Julio Rodríguez’s true emergence on baseball’s global stage occurred last year during an electric Home Run Derby performance at Dodger Stadium. Seattle’s star center fielder crushed a whopping 81 dingers — as a rookie — and drew awe from the millions who tuned in, but even more”,”tagline({“formatString”:”none”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-136″,”title”:”Seattle Mariners”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:136″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run-derby”,”title”:”Home Run Derby”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-677594″,”title”:”Julio Rodriguez”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:677594″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”,”slug”:”gamepk-717652″,”title”:”2023/06/22 sea@nyy”,”type”:”game”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”daniel-kramer”,”title”:”Daniel Kramer”,”type”:”contributor”}],”type”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/cf77cbmirwakthbrbth5″,”title”:”Julio Rodríguez to participate in 2023 Home Run Derby”}},”Team:136″:{“__typename”:”Team”,”id”:136},”Person:677594″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:677594},”Person:115135″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:115135}}}
window.adobeAnalytics={“reportingSuiteId”:”mlbglobal08,mlbcom08″,”linkInternalFilters”:”mlb”}
window.globalState={“tracking_title”:”Major League Baseball”,”lang”:”en”}
window.appId=”
/*–>*/

5:06 PM UTC

NEW YORK — Julio Rodríguez’s true emergence on baseball’s global stage occurred last year during an electric Home Run Derby performance at Dodger Stadium. Seattle’s star center fielder crushed a whopping 81 dingers — as a rookie — and drew awe from the millions who tuned in, but even more so, from his All-Star peers while finishing runner-up.

Now, Rodríguez will look to take the Derby crown — and he’ll do so in his own backyard.

The 22-year-old Mariners star announced Friday via social media that he will take part in this year’s event at T-Mobile Park. He’s the first official participant among the eight-player field set to take the stage on Monday, July 10.

Rodríguez had long seemed destined for this Derby since Seattle was awarded this year’s Midsummer Classic in September 2021, well before he debuted in the Majors seven months later.

Back then, he’d already exhibited the kind of power, charisma and flair as the franchise’s most prominent face of the future — and he went on to live up to those lofty expectations en route to winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award last season, with the Derby arguably his biggest individual highlight in a year full of them.

His quick ascent, his performance last year and that the host city typically always has a representative in the sport’s premier power event made him a strong candidate to be invited.

The last time it was held in Seattle, in 2001, Bret Boone competed. The Derby didn’t exist the only other year in which the Emerald City hosted the Midsummer Classic, in 1979 at the Kingdome.

With Boone, who also participated in 2003, Rodríguez is one of just seven Mariners participants all-time, along with Jay Buhner (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Edgar Martinez (2000), Robinson Canó (2016) and — of course — Ken Griffey Jr., who did it a whopping seven times and is the only three-time winner.

Rodríguez has Derby experience, but he’ll still be among the event’s youngest all time. At 22 years, 6 months, 12 days on July 10, Rodríguez would be the youngest Derby winner, besting Juan González, who was 23 years and 265 days old when he won in 1993. Juan Soto, who edged Rodríguez last year, is the second-youngest by just one day (23 years, 266 days).

Speaking of last year, Soto might’ve taken home the hardware, but Rodríguez was easily the event’s biggest star. He knocked out two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, and by virtue of the round-by-round formatting, Rodríguez hit 28 more total homers than Soto, 81 to 53, though Soto outpaced Rodríguez in the final round, 19 to 18.

When Rodríguez announced that he was participating last year as a rookie, he’d already been selected to the All-Star Game. That’s not the case this year, at least yet. He didn’t advance to Phase 2 of All-Star voting, which begins Monday, but it’s still possible he can get in via other avenues.

Rodríguez entered Friday hitting .238/.300/.415 (.715 OPS) with 12 homers. He’s had some huge moments in his sophomore season while also experiencing more inconsistencies at the plate, an up-and-down trajectory that has mirrored the overall showing of the Mariners, who are in fourth place in the AL West and have hovered around .500 for most of the year.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : MLB – https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-rodriguez-to-participate-in-2023-home-run-derby