The Seattle Mariners are heading into the 2026 MLB season fresh off a deep playoff run that ended just one win shy of the franchise’s first-ever World Series appearance.
The future remains bright, especially with center fielder Julio Rodriguez and catcher Cal Raleigh leading the charge.
Rodriguez, in particular, just completed his fourth big-league season and continued to establish himself as one of the game’s premier talents. The 25-year-old earned his third career All-Star selection and his third top-10 finish in AL MVP voting.
A familiar pattern resurfaced in 2025, as Rodriguez endured a slow start before catching fire in the second half.
Over his final 65 games heading into October, he posted a .290 batting average, .341 on-base percentage, .900 OPS, 18 home runs and 45 RBIs, once again proving to be the driving force behind Seattle’s success.
Rodriguez’s second-half surge underscored that, at his peak, he is a legitimate MVP candidate. His performance flew somewhat under the radar given the historic season from teammate Cal Raleigh, but MLB recently spotlighted him in its 2026 predictions.
Listed under AL MVP was Rodriguez, projected to capture the award for the first time in his career. The forecast makes sense, as many believe it is only a matter of time before he strings together a full 162-game season at that level.
The post quickly drew attention in Seattle’s clubhouse. Outfielder Victor Robles, who has shared the field with Rodriguez since arriving from the Washington Nationals in 2024, reposted the graphic and added a message in Spanish that translated to, “Let’s do this kid 😤.” Rodriguez replied with his own message, “With God’s favor🔥.”
The exchange, punctuated by the Dominican flag, reflected the bond the two have built over the past two seasons. Both players share Dominican roots, and their connection has become a source of pride within the Mariners’ roster.
The exchange also highlighted the growing anticipation surrounding Rodriguez’s pursuit of an MVP season in 2026. His ability to carry the Mariners through stretches of the schedule has already been proven, and now the challenge is sustaining that level from Opening Day through October.
Seattle’s roster is built to contend, but Rodriguez’s consistency could be the difference between another near miss and finally breaking through to the World Series stage.