For Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, it’s country pride over everything else.
When speaking to reporters during a World Baseball Classic practice on Thursday, Rodriguez, who plays for the Dominican Republic, said that a tournament championship would just mean more to him.
“I love the Mariners,” Rodriguez said, according to Foul Territory. “They know I give my best for them every single time I step on the field, but winning the World Baseball Classic is at the top of the list.”
This year is Rodriguez’s second appearance in the WBC, as he represented the D.R. ahead of his sophomore season in 2023, when the team did not advance from pool play.
“This is for my country, this is for my town, this is for the people in my neighborhood,” Rodriguez added. “It’s for everybody in the Dominican Republic.”
The D.R. went undefeated in pool play this time around, outscoring opponents 41-10 in four games, with some fiery performances in the opening round.
Rodriguez spoke on the intense atmosphere, saying Thursday’s win over Venezuela was the “most electric game” that he’s played in.
“The atmosphere was definitely the most electric game that I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “The way that the Dominican fans just showed up it was amazing. I’ve been in some crazy [MLB] playoff atmospheres, but the way that the Dominicans bring it is completely different.
“I think that was the rowdiest game I have been a part of. Just the two Latin cultures clashing last night I think was amazing and the biggest part of it.”
Teammate Juan Soto echoed Rodriguez’s aspirations, saying that bringing home a title for the D.R. would be a “dream.”
“It’s a dream for me to come here and try to win it for the Dominican Republic,” he said.
The country has won the WBC once before, defeating Puerto Rico in 2013.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
