The Seattle Mariners fell one game short of their first World Series appearance in franchise history last season. Losing in game seven of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners had a three-to-zero lead, but would end losing the last four games in a row, as they had to watch Vladimir Guerrero Jr and the rest of the Blue Jays advance to play the Los Angeles Dodgers.
SportsNet reporter Hazel Mae, following game six heading into game seven, asked Guerrero Jr. if he was ready.
“You asked me if I’m ready. I was born ready. I was born ready,” he said. “And I want it all for this city.”
Someone who was heartbroken, just like many Mariners fans, was former NBA Rookie of the Year and All-Star Paolo Banchero. The Seattle Native recently spoke with LandonBuford.com about the Mariners’ near miss at the pennant for the first time.
“Yeah, I’m a huge Mariners fan. I’ve been tuning into the first few games of the season, especially after they made it to the league finals last year. I’m really excited—even though they came up a little short,” said Banchero.
“Guys like Julio Rodríguez and J.P. Crawford are fun to watch, and I’m looking forward to catching a few games this summer once the season wraps up.”
Banchero has played in a couple of games since he was drafted into the NBA. Last season, he pulled up to a game against the Los Angeles Angels on August 5, 2022, and threw out the first pitch. He has also swapped jerseys with Mariners star Julio Rodríguez in 2024 during Rodríguez’s visit to the Kia Center before the Magic took on the Philadelphia 76ers that Friday evening.
Julio also earned American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2022 and became the fastest player in AL/NL history to reach 25 home runs and 25 steals in his Major League career, according to MLB.com.
The following season, Rodríguez posted a .275/.333/.485 slash line with 32 home runs, 103 RBI, and 37 stolen bases, according to Statmuse.com.
After the season, Rodriguez reflected on it, but according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, he felt he didn’t do enough despite finishing fourth in the MVP race.
“I wasn’t happy with it. I feel like a lot of people can say, ‘Oh, like he was fourth in the MVP. He did this. He did that. How can you not be happy?’ But I feel like there were a lot of moments that I feel like I should have done better.”
Then Mariners’ manager Scott Servais, according to The Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish, spoke about Rodríguez being an unbelievable talent and just scratching the surface following the 2023 season.
“It’s unbelievable how talented he is,” Scott Servais said. “And he’s still learning. He’s just starting to scratch the surface on what I think he can do on a consistent basis.”
He later added, “I think Julio has learned a ton this year. “From where the expectations were early in the season and the struggles he had there to get it flipped and end up putting together a really good season. Not a great season, I think, in his mind, but a really good season. But ultimately, it kind of comes down to the end. Do you have enough left in the tank? Can you control your emotions? Can you do the little things and not to get caught up in the big things so much. Fantastic player, great kid, and he’s learning. He’s learning like a lot of our young players.”
As for Bancero, he and the Orlando Magic are one game away from being eliminated from playoff contention if they lose Friday’s play-in tournament game against the red-hot Charlotte Hornets. That Game airs on Amazon Prime at 7:30 pm EST.