93RD MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 10, 2023

Julio Rodríguez

T-Mobile Park

Home Run Derby Press Conference

Q. Did you have a goal in mind for that first round?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I mean, definitely. I feel like I just wanted to, that was the opportunity basically in the first opportunity that I had, I wanted to live in the moment. Kind of be able to give a show to the Mariners fans and just kind of give it my all. For that second round I was just, (exhales), but it was fun. It was fun.

Q. It's the easy question, but we were watching you had a smile on your face the whole time. How fun was that?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: It was electric. Just like the fact that we're out here and the whole crowd was into it and they were supporting me, all that. I feel like it meant the world for me, I really enjoyed it and I hope they enjoyed it too.

Q. When you're in a groove like that in the first round and it seems like every ball you hit is going out, what's that feeling like and can you take us through just the emotions of that first round?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I mean, I definitely felt -- it felt really good just because the whole crowd got going. Every time I would hit ball after ball out it definitely felt really good. It felt really good and the whole crowd was in it.

Q. When did you find out that you set a record in the first round?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: Did I?

Q. Yeah. Right now is now when you're finding out?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: Yeah.

Q. How do you feel? You set a record for the most home runs in a single round in the Derby.

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: That's pretty good. I'll take it.

Q. You were tired in the second round. What did it feel like then?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: It feels like your mind is there, but your body is not. That's the best way to explain it.

Q. Could you just sort of describe your mindset during that first round and what it was like to hear everybody chanting your name and players rooting for you and all that?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: Oh, like I said earlier, it definitely felt really exciting that the whole crowd was in it. I feel like my whole goal once I stepped on the field was just to give a show to the crowd. Just give them something that they will enjoy and I hope that they enjoyed my performance out there.

Q. Did that first round live up to your expectations for just the atmosphere and just the city of Seattle cheering for you?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: Definitely. Definitely did. Definitely did. I was really happy with it. Really happy with the energy that the fans brought.

Q. Obviously we talked about how fun it is but there's more to come. How exciting is it that you had a blast tonight and then there's the actual All Star Game coming up tomorrow?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: Really excited because I know they're going to keep bringing the energy and I know how this fan base is. So I'm excited to see them again tomorrow.

Q. What was some of the advice that you got from people down there? We saw Vlad talking to you, saw Ken Griffey Jr. talking to you, what was it like it hear from all of them?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: It definitely was really good. Just to be able to talk with them, talk about baseball, and he told me before the Derby he told me to catch the ball a little bit out front, and that's what I did in that first round.

Q. Did you take anything from last year's experience in the Derby in terms of it teaching you something about how to approach it this year?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I feel like just being part of it. Being part of it. I feel like I never done a Derby before unless it was just with my friends just messing around. But just being part of it, being part of the Derby the whole time in the sequence, it just felt like I had been there before. That's kind of what I took from it.

Q. Earlier this morning you got to say "thank you" to some of the brands who have supported you through this, T-Mobile and Gatorade among them. How does having some of that support and the support of the league help you, help build confidence and do things like you just did out there today?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: It was definitely great to be able to have a nice little breakfast with them and just kind of be able to say "thank you" to everybody that supported me, that believe in me and basically I try to get them to just roll with me.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you.