SAN FRANCISCO — In a week when T-Mobile Park hosts the All-Star Game like the Dominicans, the Mariners will have more than one player. Julio Rodriguez And George Kirby They were later added to the American League roster Seattle wins, 6-0on the Giants on Tuesday.
Rodriguez replaces Houston OF/DH Yordon Alvarez, who has been on the disabled list since June 9, and Kirby replaces Rays ace Shane McClanahan.
The two join Dominican Luis Castillo, who was named to the team when the rosters were announced by MLB on Sunday.
It was the second midseason classic for Rodriguez, who was the only rookie in the majors last year at Dodger Stadium. It’s a first for Kirby, who has only been in the big leagues 14 months but has developed into one of the best pitchers in the NL.
Rodriguez is set to compete in the Home Run Festival on Monday, looking to take the crown against strong competition in his team’s stadium after last year’s electric performance.
“To have the opportunity to get on the field in front of the fans in Seattle and in front of my family members that are there, it’s definitely going to be a lot of fun,” Rodriguez said.
The Dominican’s production in 2023 didn’t live up to his epic 2022, when he was awarded AL Rookie of the Year, but he made an impact as a star for the game, the city of Seattle and the event.
The 22-year-old outfielder entered Tuesday’s action hitting .246/.309/.414 (.723 OPS) with 13 home runs, 46 RBIs, 16 doubles, a triple and 20 steals, resulting in a wRC+ of 105 (league). 100 average) and leads the Mariners with a 2.3 fWAR.
In the All-Star Game, he went 0-for-2 and patrolled center field for the final five innings. Quisquayen is the 13th player to be invited to multiple midseason classics as a member of the Mariners.
“It’s not a disappointment,” Rodriguez said of not being included in the starting lineup. “It’s like, ‘OK, there’s work to be done. We’ve got to keep going. We’ve got to keep moving forward.’ There are games to be won and that was my mindset.
He hopes he can have his own locker when his posh companions arrive.
“I think there’s a lot of guys I can learn from,” Rodriguez said. “I’m definitely excited to talk to a lot of guys.”
For his part, Kirby plans to make his last outing in the first half at Houston on Thursday, so he’ll be on normal rest for the All-Star Game. After Logan Gilbert’s Jewel Tuesday at Oracle Park, the Mariners are tied for first in the majors with 43 quality starts, and they owe a lot to Kirby. With his 13 quality starts, he is tied with Toronto’s Kevin Gausman for the AL lead.
“I don’t expect it at this point,” Kirby said. “You play your whole life for moments like this, so it’s kind of cool.”
Kirby leads the majors with a 9.56 K/BB ratio, a historic feat. Kirby is 7-7 with a 3.21 ERA, 86 strikeouts and nine walks in 101 innings of work and is holding opposing hitters to a .248/.268/.390 line (.658 OPS). In essence, he’s pitched the Mariners to a win in each of his 16 starts.
