It's clear Julio Rodriguez is ready for the big leagues, but is he ready for a spot on the Spokane Fightin' Fish Opening Day Active Roster? That's the dilemma facing Fish GM Michael Tirabassi and a question that will need to be answered in the coming days.
Rodriguez had one of the more impressive at-bats of Spring Training Thursday night, facing shutdown reliever Emmanuel Clase and driving a 2-2 pitch to the right-center field wall that ended up in an inside the park home run. He backed it up with his third Spring home run Sunday, another opposite field blast.
Rodriguez was not projected to make the Opening Day roster as of Draft Day, leaving Tirabassi with some strong flexibility. Monday morning's news that the outfielder has officially made the Opening Day roster in Seattle will start the clock on the Fightin' Fish's 24-hour window to activate Rodriguez. If they decline, he would then be eligible to be activated at the beginning of Period 9 at the earliest.
On talent alone, the 21-year-old is ready for a prominent place on the Fish for 2022. But the risk, given his age and the Mariners crowded depth chart, are the main drivers that could hold him back. Jesse Winker, Jarred Kelenic and Mitch Haniger currently man a talented outfield while Abraham Toro-Hernandez, Luis Torrens and Eugenio Suarez could clog up some of the DH at-bats on the roster. That's not to say Rodriguez isn't more deserving, but a slow start and the presence of proven veteran bats leaves open the potential for a return to the Minor Leagues.
Rodriguez hit .347/.441/.560 w/ 13 HR & 21 SB in 340 PA between High-A & AA in 2021.
Around the RDBL
- It's hard to argue against Jacob deGrom being the most important player on any RDBL roster, and that was before news struck of his injured shoulder that is expected to sideline him from RDBL points for at least two months of the season. The Honolulu Hammerheads do have the talent to bridge the gap to a deGrom return, with Corbin Burnes and Carlos Rodon moving into the club's top two rotation spots while Byron Buxton looks like an MVP candidate so far in Spring.
- The Aristocrats will be short an important arm to start 2022 as Mike Clevinger is likely IL bound with a sore right knee. "It felt like we were kind of in a rush job with him to begin with," Padres manager Bob Melvin said, in reference to getting Clevinger ready for Opening Day during a compressed spring training. "So [placing him on the IL] allows us to kind of smooth things out, slow it down." The Padres lengthened their starting rotation options Sunday, acquiring Lake Merced Goutfish lefty Sean Manaea. Clevinger was rocked for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in his only Spring appearance.
- The Lunatic Fringe's key Free Agent splash Lance Lynn will miss the first month of the season with a slight tear in a tendon by his knee. He is set to undergo surgery Tuesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. He's expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks before resuming mound work, putting him likely on track for a mid-May return. The club will rely on Reserve picks Ryan Yarbrough and Taijuan Walker while Lynn is sidelined.
- Devils utilityman Jose Rojas suffered a Grade-2 oblique strain and will miss "weeks, not days" according to the D'backs. Rojas will likely be replaced by Reserve Draft pick Mike Moustakas for GM Jason Watson.
- Max Scherzer is set to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, Mets manager Buck Showalter told Newsday’s Tim Healey and other reporters. Right hamstring tightness kept Scherzer out of a scheduled seven-inning intrasquad game on Saturday, which was supposed to be Scherzer’s last bit of spring work before the beginning of the regular season.
The Aristocrats ace has already tossed 11 Grapefruit League innings, so his arm might already be built up enough should he get through Tuesday’s bullpen without any ill effects. It is also possible that the Mets might opt for some extra caution, and either push Scherzer’s first start back at least a few days, or maybe even sideline him with a backdated IL visit just to be completely sure that the 37-year-old is fully ready.
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