Seattle Mariners Slugger Julio Rodriguez Makes MLB History

Julio Rodriguez has earned his place in Major League Baseball history…

The 24-year-old Dominican professional baseball center fielder for the Seattle Mariners homered to become the first player in MLB history with 20 or more home runs and 20 or more stolen bases in each of his first four seasons, as the Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Sunday.

Julio RodriguezRodriguez hit a two-run shot in the third inning — his 100th career homer — and the slugging and speedy center fielder also added his 21st stolen base of the season after singling in the fifth inning.

Jorge Polanco added a solo shot in the second, and shortstop J.P. Crawford smacked a two-run blast in the fourth against Rangers starter Jacob deGrom (10-4), who became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts by games and innings Sunday.

The Rangers kept things close by pushing across three runs against Mariners starter Logan Evans (5-4), but tallied only one run against the Mariners bullpen before closer Andrés Muñoz locked down his 25th save of the season.

Oneil Cruz Nabs Runner at Home Plate with Incredible 105.2 MPH Throw

Oneil Cruz is armed and dangerous…

The 26-year-old Dominican professional baseball center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates made a 105.2 mph throw to nab the Seattle Mariners‘ J.P. Crawford at the plate on Sunday, the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist since Statcast started tracking in 2015.

Oneil Cruz“It was unbelievable, honestly, one of the best plays that I’ve seen live,” Pirates interim manager Don Kelly said. “To be able to make that going that way and across his body and throw back to home as accurate as it was, just an amazing play.”

It was one of few highlights for the Pirates, who were shut out by Seattle for a third straight game, losing 1-0.

The fastest throw from the outfield that produced an out in Major League Baseball‘s Statcast era was 105.5 mph by Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees in 2016.

Cruz’s throw was the fastest of any kind by a Pirates outfielder. The one-hopper to the plate came as a surprise to Crawford, who did not slide on the play.

With one out in the first inning, the Mariners’ Jorge Polanco lined a single to left-center off All-Star right-hander Paul Skenes. Cruz ranged to his right, fielded it and threw on a line toward catcher Henry Davis.

The ball bounced directly into Davis’ mitt and he made the tag, much to Skenes’ surprise as he backed up the play behind the plate.

“Yeah, I had the best seat in the house. That was unbelievable,” said Skenes, who struck out 10 in five scoreless innings. “Henry played it perfectly, too. It feels lucky, but I know Henry and Oneil created luck for me there.”

The 6-foot-7 Cruz was already a Statcast hero of sorts.

In May, he had the hardest-hit ball since Statcast started tracking, a home run at PNC Park that left the bat at 122.9 mph and splashed into the Allegheny River.

Jorge Polanco Agrees to One-Year, $7.75 Million Deal with Seattle Mariners

Jorge Polanco is a marinero again…

The 31-year-old Dominican professional baseball infielder will return to the Seattle Mariners after agreeing to a one-year, $7.75 million contract, per ESPN.

Jorge PolancoIn the process, the Mariners filled a hole at third base.

The deal includes a vesting option for 2026 that is based on plate appearances, according to The Athletic, which first reported the agreement.

Polanco, a switch-hitter, had his best season in 2019, producing an .841 OPS with 22 home runs and finishing 13th in American League MVP voting. His offensive numbers remained solid from 2021 to 2023, during which he slashed .255/.333/.462 and posted a 120 adjusted OPS with the Minnesota Twins. 

But Polanco’s production dipped in Seattle, which has historically been difficult on hitters. He hit 16 home runs in 118 games and maintained his discipline within the strike zone in 2024, but his OPS finished at a career-low .651 and his adjusted OPS, which adjusts for park factors, was seven percentage points below the league average.

The Mariners boast a young, dynamic starting rotation that is arguably the best in the AL but have been held back for years by a lack of consistent offensive production. Their pitching staff held the second-lowest ERA in the majors last year, but their offense ranked 22nd in OPS, prompting them to miss the playoffs for a second straight time after a breakthrough 2022 season.

The Mariners are hoping a full season of Randy Arozarena, whom they acquired before the trade deadline last July, and a bounce-back campaign from young superstar Julio Rodriguez will go a long way toward improving their lineup. But they’d still like to add another bat, even with Polanco’s return. Second and first base remain positions the team can upgrade.

Carlos Correa Finalizing Six-Year, $200 Million Deal with Minnesota Twins

Carlos Correa will be twinning again.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop is finalizing a six-year, $200 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, pending a physical, according to ESPN.

Carlos CorreaThe announcement comes after weeks of discussion to salvage a deal with the New York Mets broke down, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

The stunning turn caps a whirlwind month for Correa, who agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on December 13.

After the Giants raised concerns about Correa’s surgically repaired right leg, he pivoted quickly to the Mets, who offered him a 12-year, $315 million contract.

The Mets flagged his physical as well, and efforts to amend the deal fell apart, leading Correa back to Minnesota, where he signed after a topsy-turvy offseason last year, too.

The agreement includes a vesting option for four years and $70 million and will become official if Correa passes a medical review, which is currently taking place.

The focus will be on his lower right leg, which he broke in 2014 during a minor league game, and a source said the Twins expect to be comfortable with it. Correa has not spent time on the injured list for a right leg ailment in his eight-year Major League Baseball career, but Giants and Mets medical personnel were concerned about how the leg would age.

Correa is among the game’s best shortstops and entered the winter in hopes of securing the mega-contract that eluded him last offseason, when he settled for a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins that included an opt-out after the first season.

Correa hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and high-level defense, leaving the Twins hopeful he would consider returning after he filed for free agency.

Minnesota never intended to play in the $300 million-plus neighborhood, and after Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees, the Giants, in search of a franchise player, blew past that number for Correa, leaving the Twins to try to salvage their winter by signing outfielder Joey Gallo and catcher Christian Vazquez.

All the while, they lurked as the fallback plan for Correa, thrilled to potentially add him to a lineup that also includes MLB All-StarByron Buxton and Luis Arraez in addition to top prospect Royce LewisJose MirandaJorge PolancoMax KeplerNick GordonAlex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach.

Should Correa pass his physical — the Twins are more familiar with his medical situation than any other team and earlier in the winter considered a 10-year, $285 million deal, which is around what the current deal would wind up at if the option vests — Minnesota will enter 2023 with strong hopes of winning the AL Central.

Jorge Polanco Leads Minnesota Twins to Team’s First-Ever Four-Game Sweep of the Texas Rangers

Jorge Polanco is Twinning

The 26-year-old Dominican professional baseball infielder cleared the bases with a tiebreaking triple in the eighth inning, lifting his Minnesota Twins team to their first-ever four-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 6-3 victory on Sunday.

Jorge Polanco

By finishing its first four-game sweep since the end of last season, Minnesota maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over the Cleveland Indiansin the AL Central. The Twins went 5-1 on a trip that started with them a half-game behind after Cleveland beat Boston while they had a day off. They’re back on top of Cleveland, with a little room to spare after a fruitful stop in Texas.

“It was a tremendous trip,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It was fun to watch our guys. There were a lot of big moments on this trip, and ultimately we found ways to win these games.”

Polanco’s two-out liner to the gap in right-center field off Emmanuel Clase (0-2) followed the hard-throwing rookie getting a strikeout and groundout after putting runners at second and third with no outs. Miguel Sano walked to load the bases before Polanco’s team-leading sixth triple on a 99-mph cutter.

“I’ve seen 100 miles per hour, but his pitches cut and move,” Polanco said through a translator.