At the Kingdome, eating peanuts tossed behind the back by the peanut man, I watched Alex Rodríguez in his historic 40/40 season, joining Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds. I also witnessed the legend himself, Ken Griffey Jr., the greatest 5-tool talent since Willie Mays. Growing up as a Mariners fan in the 90s, we were spoiled. Baseball was not just about one-dimensional home run kings, it was about players who could do it all: hit for power and average, flash the leather, and steal bases.
Now Julio Rodríguez is rising to join that elite company and is helping the Mariners chase a playoff berth this season. Since his debut he has showcased the rare and complete skill set that defines a true 5-tool player. He can hit for both average and power, and he pairs that offensive threat with speed, range, and a cannon of an arm that makes him one of the most dynamic players in the league.
Offensively Rodríguez is a threat every time he steps in the box, especially in the second half of the year when his bat heats up. He drives the ball to all fields, pressures defenses with his baserunning, and swipes bags with ease.
Defensively he glides through center field with elite instincts and closing speed. Combine that with one of the strongest and most accurate arms in baseball, and Julio turns extra-base hits and scoring chances into outs.
At just 24, Rodríguez might just be the premier 5-tool player of this generation. He is not only transforming the Mariners into contenders but also capturing the imagination of fans and analysts alike. As his career unfolds, he has a chance to leave a lasting mark on the game and to redefine what it means to be a 5-tool superstar in Major League Baseball. So let’s find out: Is Julio Rodriguez the ultimate 5-tool player?
Choosing a Benchmark
I want to be clear about how I’m approaching this. My goal is to be as consistent as possible with the analysis, while also giving a fair picture of how Julio stacks up against his peers. I chose the Top 60 for each of the five tools for two main reasons:
-
The Top 60 represents being a top-two player on an average ballclub. Being the second-best player on any team in any category is no small feat.
-
Full transparency: this is a slight bit of cherry-picking. I wanted to make sure Julio was not eliminated at the outset, and he does crack the Top 60 in batting average. Still, this benchmark ensures every qualifying MLB player is being compared on the same playing field.
Tool #1 = Batting for Power (Stat = HR)
The Top 60 MLB Home Run Leaders
Despite the slow start (again) and playing in one of MLB’s toughest stadiums, Julio is tied for 12th in MLB Home Runs with 30. On most MLB teams, he would be leading the team in Home Runs. However he is overshadowed this year by Cal Raleigh and Eugenio Suarez in the HR category as Cal leads all of MLB in HRs and Suarez is 4th in MLB ahead of Aaron Judge.