Mariners promote #2 prospect Julio Rodríguez to Double-A Arkansas
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Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images
Everett-based fans who were hoping to see Mariners superstar prospect Julio Rodríguez in person, you’re out of luck.for now. The Mariners announced, as many suspected, Julio would not be returning from Olympic qualifying to the AquaSox, but instead will be moving on up to Double-A Arkansas.
Had so much fun playing for the @EverettAquaSox Loved the fans in the PNW I’m looking forward for us to meet again @ARTravs LETS GET IT NOW‼️ #JRODSHOW Julio Y. Rodriguez (@J RODshow) June 28, 2021
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
The Situation
On Feb. 5, Mather was in a Zoom call with members of a rotary club. It was here that he made comments regarding international players’ English speaking skills. These insensitive comments were specifically targeted toward former Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma and Julio Rodriguez, a prospect from the Dominican Republic.
Additionally, Mather made statements regarding manipulating the service time of certain prospects in the Mariners’ organization. Mather stated that top prospect Jarred Kelenic was being held in the minor leagues in order to delay his free agency.
Mather officially resigned on Monday, soon after the comments were made public. Now, Dipoto is left to clean up the damage.
“We condemn Kevin Mather’s offensive and disrespectful comments about several players. We are proud of the international players who have made baseball better through their outstanding examples of courage and determination, and our global game is far better because of their contributions. His misguided remarks do not represent the values of our game and have no place in our sport,” said the league in a statement.
“Julio Rodríguez has got a personality bigger than all of you combined,” Mather said in the video, which has since been taken down, reported ESPN. “He is loud, his English is not tremendous.”
“Like all of you, I was extremely disappointed when I learned of Kevin Mather’s recent comments,” Stanton said in a statement. “His comments were inappropriate and do not represent our organization’s feelings about our players, staff, and fans.
“There is no excuse for what was said, and I won’t try to make one. I offer my sincere apology on behalf of the club and my partners to our players and fans. We must be, and do, better.”
Mather spoke to a Rotary Club in Bellevue, Washington, on Feb. 5. The video was posted on YouTube this weekend but has since been deleted. Mariners blog Lookout Landing has a transcript of the event.
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