Seattle Mariners not out of the woods yet with Julio Rodriguez

The Seattle Mariners had gone from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. Just a day after acquiring Luis Castillo in a blockbuster trade, Julio Rodriguez left the game after being struck in the hand while striking out on Saturday.

Fortunately for the Mariners, the initial x-rays came back negative. Nonetheless, they are still being cautious, as Corey Brock from The Athletic reported that Rodriguez will be heading to the Injured List.

Seattle Mariners still need to wait with Julio Rodriguez

It is a great sign that the initial x-rays came back negative. However, that does not mean that Rodriguez is healthy and will be back once the minimal time spent on the Injured List has passed. It is possible that he has a hairline fracture that would not be seen just yet, as was the case with Trevor Story and the Red Sox.

Ultimately, that will determine how long the Mariners will be without Rodriguez. A second x-ray will need to take place once the swelling has gone down just to make certain that he truly is not injured. At that point, a timetable will be able to be determined for his return.

Rodriguez will a major loss no matter how long he is out of the lineup. He had posted a .271/.334/.482 batting line with 18 homers and 19 doubles while stealing 21 bases over his 401 plate appearances, his 134 OPS+ trailing only Ty France on the team. His all around game has already made him one of the bright young stars in the majors while an extended absence from the lineup could scuttle the Mariners’ hopes of ending their playoff drought.

As it is, the initial results are a good sign. The Mariners may be able to get Rodriguez back in the somewhat near future which would provide a further boost to their postseason aspirations. But it will all come down to a second x-ray.

Initial x-rays came back negative for Julio Rodriguez. Nonetheless, the Seattle Mariners need to wait for a second scan to be safe.