JULIO RODRIGUEZ WASTED little time making his mark in the majors. Since debuting in 2022 as a highly touted prospect from the Dominican Republic, he’s won Rookie of the Year and two Silver Sluggers, and earned three All-Star appearances, cementing himself as one of baseball’s brightest young stars with his mix of power, speed, and defense. This season, his 32 home runs and 95 RBIs helped lead the Seattle Mariners to their first AL West title in nearly 25 years (2001)—topped off with 30 stolen bases for his second 30-30 season of his career.
With the playoffs starting on September 30 and the Mariners getting a bye into the Division Series, we caught up with Rodríguez to learn what he leans on for an edge heading into the playoffs. The Mariners will kick off their World Series hopes on October 4.
Training and competing every day for a 162-game season (and the playoffs) demands serious recovery fuel. Rodríguez turns to Muscle Milk to power through quick turnarounds and back-to-back games, saying, “It helps me be the best version of myself.” He adds that he prefers its liquid form over bars for convenience. Plus, when you buy a 12-pack, they're barely two bucks a piece.
Rodríguez is a devoted anime fan, watching it almost daily to unwind. He draws inspiration from classics like Solo Leveling and One Piece—both viewed in the U.S. on Crunchyroll, a streaming service dedicated to anime. The tenacity of One Piece’s characters has been especially motivating him lately, as he attempts to bring Seattle its first-ever World Series. “It really motivates me to see how hard they chase their dreams and pushes me to chase my dreams, too.”
“I can never be anywhere without my AirPods,” Rodríguez says. Whenever he’s on the road, he relies on his AirPods to watch Anime. Pregame, he’ll have them in listening to music that gets him hyped to play, specifically go-tos Bad Bunny and Drake.
Rodríguez trains his mind as diligently as his body. “I love meditating,” he says, noting that he tries to practice every day, even if only for a few minutes. He prioritizes it before games to center himself before stepping to the plate, turning to his favorite meditation app, Calm, to create a quiet space and stay present in the moment.
For a player chasing peak performance, sleep is just as critical as training. Rodríguez swears by the magnetic Intake Breathing Nasal Strips, which help him breathe easier, unwind, and slip into deeper sleep quickly. That quality rest allows him to recover faster and stay sharp through the grind of a long season.
Rodríguez’s favorite part of living in Seattle is the easy access to nature, which he leans on to balance out the more chaotic aspects of professional baseball, but he’s also a big believer in relaxing at home. After partnering with Adidas for his signature Adizero Impact+ cleats, he remains loyal to the brand when venturing outdoors—or being cozy around the house. He says this is the most comfortable hoodie he’s worn for either.
