Julio Rodriguez Set to Return as Mariners Get Injury Updates

What Happened to Julio Rodriguez?

Julio Rodriguez is a baseball player who catches fly balls in the middle of the field (called a center fielder) for the Seattle Mariners. Think of him as the team’s outfield superhero in the center.

• He got hurt on July 2, when a baseball hit him in the back of the head during a game the Mariners won 1–0 against the Los Angeles Angels.
• Because of that bump on the head (doctors call it a concussion—a brain shake from a hit), he was put on a special "can’t play" list for 7 days starting July 3.

Important: A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or jolt to the head. Players must be careful and slowly return to avoid getting hurt worse.

When Is He Coming Back?

Good news! Julio is expected to play again on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants (another baseball team).

Here is what he did to get ready:

1. On Friday, he practiced before the game (called pregame drills).
2. He ran around the bases like in a real game.
3. He was planning to hit balls from a pitching machine (a robot that throws balls).

The team’s boss, Justin Hollander, said:

"It’s been a couple of weeks, he hasn’t done a lot of the things that you need to do… So, we’ll see where he is after today. I would be hopeful that he’ll be ready to go tomorrow, but I don’t know that."

So, they waited to see how Julio felt after Friday practice before saying "yes" for sure.

Who Played While Julio Was Out?

• On Friday night, another player named Victor Robles took Julio’s spot and batted eighth in the lineup (that means he was the 8th person to hit).

Julio’s Stats This Year

Julio is really good—he has been chosen as an All-Star (one of the best players) three times!

• Last year, he played in 160 games (a personal record).
• This season, before the injury, he played 87 games and did the following:
  • Hit .259 (got a hit about a quarter of the time)
  • 15 doubles (two-base hits)
  • 14 home runs (big hits over the wall)
  • 40 RBIs (helped 40 teammates score)
  • 12 stolen bases (ran to the next base safely when no one expected it)

Another Player Getting Better: Brendan Donovan

Brendan Donovan is an All-Star player who can play many positions (called a utilityman).

• He hurt his left groin muscle (the muscle near your upper leg) in May and was on the 10-day "can’t play" list.
• On Wednesday, he played a practice game for a young player team in Arizona and went 0-for-3 (didn’t get a hit in 3 tries) with 3 strikeouts (missed the ball 3 times) and 1 walk (got to first base for free).
• On Friday, he started a rehab assignment (a slow return through minor league games) with Triple-A Tacoma, which is a step closer to the big team.

Important: Rehab assignments let hurt players test their bodies in real games before coming back to the main team.

Summary

Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners’ center fielder, has been out since July 3 with a concussion from a ball to the head. He is likely to return Saturday vs. the Giants after practicing Friday. Victor Robles filled in for him. Meanwhile, injured utilityman Brendan Donovan is working his way back through minor league rehab games after a groin injury.

FAQ

Q: What is a concussion?
A: It’s a brain injury from a bump or shake to the head. Players rest and slowly return to stay safe.

Q: What does "rehab assignment" mean?
A: It’s when a hurt player plays in smaller, practice-like games to get strong again before rejoining the main team.

Q: Why was Julio Rodriguez placed on the 7-day injured list?
A: Because he got a concussion after a baseball hit the back of his head on July 2.

Q: Who replaced Julio in the lineup on Friday?
A: Victor Robles started in his place and batted eighth.