Rodríguez was born and raised inLoma de Cabrera, a town of 20,000 people in theDominican Republic.[1] While many MLB players are from the Dominican Republic, relatively few are from Loma de Cabrera, which is located near the border withHaiti. The most famous player from the town wasRafael Furcal.[2][1]
Rodríguez's father was anagricultural engineer, his mother was adentist, and he has three siblings.[3] At ten years old, he began competing in a local baseball league with children three to four years older than himself.[4] His father began coaching him at 12 years old, training him to play catcher because of his build. When he had a growth spurt the following year, he moved to the outfield.[5] He first caught the attention of scouts when, at only 12 years old, he hit a ball to the outfield wall against a hard-throwing 17-year-old pitcher in a local tournament.[4] When he was 14, Rodríguez left his family for a baseball academy inSantiago de Los Caballeros.[6] The Mariners discovered him at his tryout for the academy in Santiago.[7]
Rodríguez signed as an international free agent with theSeattle Mariners as a 16 year old in July 2017, receiving a $1.75 million signing bonus.[8][9][10] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-levelDominican Summer League Mariners in 2018,[7][11] playing primarilyright field andbatting .315/.404/.525 with 50 runs, nine triples (tied for the league lead), five home runs, 36 RBI, and 10 stolen bases without being caught in 59 games.[12] He was named both a DSL mid-season All-Star and aBaseball America DSL All-Star.[12] He ended the season with a foot injury, and he traveled to Arizona for additional treatment.[11]
Rodríguez started 2019 with the Class-AWest Virginia Power in theSouth Atlantic League.[13] He missed almost two months of the season with a fractured left hand.[14][15][16] He was promoted to the Class A-AdvancedModesto Nuts in theCalifornia League in August, becoming one of only three 18-year-olds to play in High-A ball in 2019.[8][10] He was more than three years younger than the average player in both leagues.[17][18] Rodríguez played in theArizona Fall League for thePeoria Javelinas after the 2019 regular season. As the youngest player in the league, he hit .288/.397/.365 in 63 plate appearances.[19][18][15] He was named an AFL Rising Star.[12]
In 2020, with the minor league season canceled, Rodríguez was ticketed for the Mariners alternate training site in Tacoma, but he broke his left wrist during a workout in July. He later participated in the fall instructional league in Arizona,[20] then played 18 games forLeones del Escogido in theDominican winter league, batting just .196 against much older competition.[18] He also began training with former football playerYo Murphy to improve his speed, allowing him to play center field and steal more bases.[21] In the minors, Rodríguez played mostly as a right fielder and did not steal more than 10 bases in a season before 2021.[18]
Rodríguez started 2021 with theEverett AquaSox. In June, he was promoted to the Double-AArkansas Travelers.[18] Rodríguez was selected to play in theAll-Star Futures Game.[22] In August, he was ranked as the best Mariners prospect and the second-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com.[23] He missed almost a month of the minor league season due to his participation in theSummer Olympics. In 74 games in 2021, Rodríguez hit .347/.441/.560 with 13 home runs and 21 stolen bases.[18] The Mariners added him to their40-man roster on November 18 to protect him from theRule 5 draft.[24] After the season, he was a consensus top 3 prospect.[18]
The Mariners named Rodríguez theirOpening Day center fielder on April 4, 2022.[25] He was the second-youngest major leaguer to start the season.[26] He debuted in the majors on April 8 against theMinnesota Twins.[27] After starting the season 1-for-21 with 12 strikeouts, Rodríguez took off.[5] On May 1, Rodríguez hit his first career home run, a three-run shot offMiami Marlins aceSandy Alcántara.[28] He was namedAmerican League (AL) Rookie of the Month consecutively for May and June. In 29 games in June, he scored 22 runs and hit .280/.361/.542 with seven home runs, 16 RBI, and five stolen bases.[29]
Rodríguez was selected for theMLB All-Star Game, the sixth Mariner rookie to play in an All-Star Game.[30] He also participated in theHome Run Derby, where he hit 81 home runs across three rounds, bestingCorey Seager andPete Alonso before losing in the final round toJuan Soto.[31] He kept up his great performance in July, during a stretch in which the Mariners won 14 consecutive games and jumped into playoff contention. On July 15, he hit his first career grand slam to put a game against theTexas Rangers out of reach. In July, he hit .267/.337/.547 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and two steals.[32] He did not win Rookie of the Month in July, which went toJose Miranda.[33]
On August 23, Rodríguez hit his 20th home run, making him the sixth player in Mariners history to join the 20–20 club and the fourth player in MLB history to have 20 homers and 20 steals in their first MLB season.[34] On September 11, he hit a game-tying home run offKenley Jansen of theAtlanta Braves with a 117.2mphexit velocity, the ninth hardest hit homer of the season.[35][36] On September 14, he became the first player to join the 25–25 club in his debut season.[37] September was Rodríguez's best month, as he hit .394 with 7 home runs in 19 games.[38]
In 2022, Rodríguez batted .284/.345/.509 with 84 runs, 28 home runs, 75 RBI, 25 steals, and 140 strikeouts in 560 plate appearances. In his first professional season playing primarily in center fielder, he led AL outfielders in bothrange factor per game and errors (6).[39][18] He tied for ninth in MLB in steals.[40] At 21 years old, he was the youngestqualified batter in the majors.[41] Rodríguez won theSilver Slugger Award[42] and theAL Rookie of the Year Award.[43] He was named to theAll-MLB Second Team.[44] He was the 16th fastest baserunner in the majors.[45]
Rodríguez led the Mariners to their first postseason appearance since 2001, at the time the longest active playoff drought amongst the four major North American sports leagues.[46] He led off all five Mariners postseason games, collecting five hits, three walks, and two hit by pitches in 28 plate appearances.[47] He was hit by anAlek Manoah pitch to lead off Game 1 of theWild Card Series against theToronto Blue Jays, coming around to score the first run of a 4–0 win. Manoah hit Rodríguez again in the fifth inning of that game.[48] Only five other players have been hit twice during a Wild Card game.[49][50]
Rodríguez's best game in October was Game 1 of theAmerican League Division Series (ALDS), when he hit a triple and a double, scoring three times in a loss to theHouston Astros.[51][52][53] He andBrandon Nimmo were the only players to hit a triple in the postseason.[54] In Game 3, Rodríguez made two difficult catches to prevent the Astros from scoring but was only 1-for-7 and made the final out in Seattle's 18-inning home loss.[55][56][57]
On August 26, Rodríguez signed a long-term contract extension with Seattle.[58] The contract lasts at least 8 years and, depending a team option in 2028 and a potential player option in 2030, that could last up to 14 years and be worth $470 million. Rodríguez's minimum guaranteed earnings on the contract are $209 million, though he could opt out in 2030 if the team declines its option. The contract includes ano-trade clause and bonuses for winning awards. It raised his 2023 salary from a minimum of $720,000 to $21 million, including a signing bonus.[59]
On April 7, 2023, Rodríguez hit a tiebreaking two-run home run in the sixth inning against theCleveland Guardians. With this home run, Rodríguez became the fastest player in Mariners history to 30 home runs, doing so in 140 games.[60] In July, he was named to the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.[61] On July 10, he hit 41 homers in the first round of theHome Run Derby againstPete Alonso, breaking the Derby record for most home runs in a single round.[62]
In August, Rodríguez went on a tear at the plate that matched or surpassed marks not achieved since the early 20th century. From August 16 to 19, Rodríguez broke the MLB record for most hits in a four-game span with 17, the most since at least 1901. During those four games, Rodríguez went 17-for-22, hit 2 home runs, recorded 8 RBIs, and stole 5 bases. He had 28 hits in 10 games, a number not reached sinceKenny Lofton in 1997. During that 10-game stretch, Rodríguez had five four-hit games, a feat that had not happened since 1900. He had five four-hit games in August; onlyTy Cobb, with six such games in 1921, had more in a month.[63] He won theAL Player of the Month Award.[64]
In early September, he became the first player in MLB history to hit 25 home runs and steal 25 bases in his first two seasons.[65] On September 11, Rodríguez hit his 30th home run of the season, making him the 44th player to join MLB's30–30 club.[66]
In 2023, Rodríguez batted .275/.333/.485 with 32 home runs. He led the AL with 29 infield hits, was second with 180 hits, second with 37 stolen bases, third with 103 RBIs, and tied for third with 175 strikeouts.[67][68] He won his second consecutiveSilver Slugger Award[69] and was a finalist for the ALGold Glove Award in center field.[70] He finished fourth place inAL Most Valuable Player voting.[71] That MVP result added $20 million to a potential club option beginning in 2030.[59]
Rodríguez had his worst offensive season in 2024, batting .273/.325/.409 with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases. He andBobby Witt Jr. became the first two players to have 20 home runs and 20 steals in the first three seasons of their MLB career.[72][73] Rodríguez missed several weeks in July and August after suffering ahigh ankle sprain crashing into the center field wall,[74] limiting him to the designated hitter role for nine games after returning from theinjured list.[75][76] He had a strong final month of the season, batting .328 with 7 home runs and 6 steals in September,[77] which he credited to hitting coachEdgar Martínez, who re-joined the team's coaching staff in late August after the firing of managerScott Servais.[78][79][80]
Rodríguez hit a decisive grand slam in a win over theChicago White Sox on May 19, 2025.[81] In July, he was named to theAll-Star Game, but chose not to play and was replaced by teammateRandy Arozarena.[82] As in prior seasons, Rodríguez hit much better in the second half.[83][84] On August 3, he hit his 100th career home run, which also made him the first player to begin his MLB career with four consecutive 20–20 seasons.[85] He hit two home runs in September 6, beginning a win streak that led to Seattle winning theAL West.[86] He stole two bases on September 27, joining the30–30 club for the second time.[87]
Rodríguez finished the regular season batting .267/.324/.474 with 32 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He led the AL in plate appearances and at bats. He was named to theAll-MLB Team and finished sixth in AL MVP voting.[39][44] He was a finalist for the Gold Glove for the second time, losing toCedanne Rafaela.[88] He led AL center fielders in games played, put outs, and total zone runs, though he trailed Rafaela and three others indefensive runs saved.[39][89]
Rodríguez homered in Game 1 of theALDS and drove in the winning run in Game 2. After 4 hits over those two games, he went 0-for-14 with 2 walks in the final three games of the series, which Seattle won.[90][47]
In theAmerican League Championship Series, Rodríguez scored the go-ahead run in Game 1, with a single and two walks in the game.[91] He hit a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 2, a lopsided 10–3 win. He also walked once and struck out three times.[92][47] He homered again in the first inning of Game 3, later hitting a single in the Mariners first loss of the series.[93] In the decisive Game 7, he hit a solo home run and a double as Seattle lost 4–3 to the Blue Jays.[94] He batted .208/.309/.500 in 12 postseason games, and his 34.5 percent strikeout rate was one of the highest in the majors.[95]
Rodríguez was one of the top hitters at the Olympics, held inTokyo in 2021. He hit .417 with a 1.069on-base plus slugging in 6 games, tying for third in total bases in the tournament.[101] In the bronze medal game, he hit a two-run home run in the first inning, adding a double, walk, and hit by pitch to help defeatSouth Korea 10–6 and win his country's first medal in baseball.[102] After the game, Rodríguez said, "We as Dominicans are characterized by baseball. So being here right now is very special, being able to win a medal for the country… It really means the world to me."[103]
Rodríguez and his country were not as successful against tougher competition in the 2023 WBC. In four games, he went 5-for-18 with one double[104] and nine strikeouts.[105] He hit a single and struck out three times in an elimination game loss toPuerto Rico on March 15.[106] In that game, he misplayed a line drive hit byFrancisco Lindor,[107] allowing Lindor to score on the play. Rodríguez later threw anoutfield assist, throwing outKiké Hernandez at third base from deep right field.[108]
Rodríguez adopted his "JRod" nickname in honor of former MarinerAlex Rodriguez.[21][9]
Rodríguez began studying English at the insistence of his mother and began posting text and videos in English with his hashtag and nickname "#JRodShow" while he was in the minor leagues.[6] He began conducting interviews with reporters in English, rather than his native Spanish, in 2018.[109][9] In February 2021, then-Mariners presidentKevin Mather spoke to a Seattle-area Rotary club and, among his negative comments about Mariners players, said Rodríguez's English was "not tremendous."[110] Rodríguez responded on Twitter, in English, with a meme stating he took Mather's comments personally.[111][112] Mather resigned the next day.[113]
Rodríguez was featured on the packaging and advertising ofTopps baseball cards in 2023.[114]
In 2023, the Mariners started a fan section for Rodríguez, called the "J-Rod Squad," in three sections behind him in center field.[115][116]
Rodríguez appeared in a Mariners television commercial withIchiro Suzuki in 2024.[117] The two outfielders became throwing partners in 2020, when Suzuki, also a Rookie of the Year winner, was a Mariners special assistant and more than twice Rodríguez's age.[6]
Fox Sports produced a documentary on Rodríguez, called "Welcome to the J-Rod Show," which first aired onFS1 on July 16, 2024, following the2024 MLB All-Star Game.[118]
Rodríguez says he's motivated by anime. In his childhood, he would run home from school to watchNaruto. As a rookie, Rodríguez wore a chain featuring title characterNaruto Uzumaki on thereverse as a reminder to never give up and "always see the bright side of things."[5]
Rodríguez began dating Canadian professionalsoccer player and fellow 2020 Olympic medalistJordyn Huitema in September 2022.[119] On May 1, 2025, burglars stole almost $200,000 of belongings from their home onMercer Island. Rodríguez was traveling with the Mariners during the home invasion. Huitema, home at the time, barricaded herself in a bathroom during the incident.[120][121]
In January 2023, Rodríguez donated an ambulance to his hometown of Loma de Cabrera, which until then did not have an ambulance. He also gave baseball equipment and toys to the children in his hometown.[122] Rodríguez created a personal foundation, the No Limits Foundation, in 2024, which organized a toy drive for children in Loma de Cabrera and the Seattle area in late 2024.[123]
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