Julio Rodríguez supplied a young fan with a memory she’ll never forget on Sunday afternoon.
Between innings of the Mariners’ 7-6 walk-off victory over the Twins, Rodríguez sat in the dugout and autographed one of his bats. When it was time for Rodríguez to take his spot in center field, he jogged all the way to the warning track to deliver the souvenir.
Rodríguez carefully tossed the bat into the stands, where another fan helped pass the bat along to a young girl. Rodríguez told Mariners.TV that he didn’t know the young fan, but he wanted her to have his bat as a gift.
She was overcome with emotion, holding up her hands to make a heart that she gestured toward Rodríguez.
Of note, the fans were sitting in the J-Rod Squad, a special seating section in center field designed to support Seattle’s star center fielder.
Rodríguez had himself a pretty good day, too, reaching base three times via two hits and a walk.