This story is taken from Daniel Kramer's Sailor Beats Newsletter, filled in by MLB.com's Josh Kirshenbaum. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
When Julio Rodríguez entered the Trident, he held his helmet on a camera far behind first base after Seattle beat Texas in a third inning 5-4 win over Texas on Sunday. As he did, Randy Arozarena hid under his arm and took a photo with the 24-year-old star, raising two fingers in one hand and clenching her fist in the other for Rodríguez's 20th home run of the season.
Eight days ago, Rodríguez held Arozarena's figures after reaching 20 home runs in Seattle's fifth straight season at Angel Stadium.
“It's special to have teammates like this,” Rodriguez said.
Rodríguez was on the injured roster when he switched Arozarena before the trade deadline last season. Since then, the duo have begun to be next to each other in the outfield in 131 games.
“This year, we've become very, very close friends,” Rodriguez said. “I knew him before, before he traded here. But this year, he's like my brother there.”
That means getting into Monday's leave, with two players in Seattle, with 20-20 seasons, while Cleveland's José Ramirez and Chicago's Pete Crow-Armstrong are all over the other 29 teams.
Since Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.
Arozarena has been crying throughout the summer since June 1, reaching 0.280 with a move of 0.912 and leading with 14 home runs since June 30. His next home run will be his 23rd, with his career high in a season.
“What he's doing on the plate lately is outstanding,” said manager Dan Wilson. “Using the whole field, kicking to serve, we see him hitting the ball on a line, we see him go. He's really doing a great job here.”
Rodríguez, who averaged at least .295 and 0.831 OPS in each of the first three seasons on August 1, looks like he could have scored the No. 1 in the summer surge since July 11, holding 1.000 with nine home runs in 20 games.
“It's 110 or older from his bat every time,” Wilson said. “When you can hit the ball on a line like this, you're going to get a good result. That's when he's going well, and that's what we're seeing.”