Every time Julio Rodriguez dashes onto the field for the Seattle Mariners, it looks effortless; his smile, his walk, and even the swing of his bat seem natural. But behind that play lies a story crafted by two people who shaped him. Long before the bright lights, the All-Star nods, or the million-dollar contracts, his parents, Julio Rodríguez Sr. and Yasmiris (Yasmin) Reyes, left a mark on him.

Julio didn’t grow up in wealth or in a stadium full of cheering fans. He grew up in Loma de Cabrera, a small town perched near the Dominican Republic’s border with Haiti. Baseball, there isn’t a weekend hobby; it’s the language of life. For young Julio, that language was first spoken at home. His mother once admitted in an MLB interview that she bought him a bat when she was seven months pregnant, because deep down, she just “already knew he would play baseball.” That kind of faith may sound superstitious to some, but in the Rodríguez household, it became an early prediction.

And while his dad, an agricultural engineer, wasn’t chasing pro dreams himself, he had his own rhythm with the game. He coached, he practiced, and pushed his son to be prepared for each practice session. And years later, when he walked into the 2021 Futures Game unannounced to surprise Julio, the young outfielder almost broke down. That wasn’t any staged TV moment; it was a reminder of how much his parents’ presence meant to him, even on the biggest stage.

Are they former athletes, too? Know more about Julio Sr. and Yasmin Reyes

Neither of Julio’s parents wore a big-league jersey, but don’t confuse that with a lack of athletic blood.

Julio Sr. played baseball through his teenage years, stopping only when college responsibilities forced him to put the glove away. But he never really let go. He kept playing in men’s softball leagues, kept his swing sharp. Most importantly, he passed that competitive fire to his son. He wasn’t just a cheerleader; he taught Rodriguez the fundamentals of the game and the mental side of competition that separates good players from great ones.

Yasmin brought a different energy. She wasn’t out there hitting grounders, but she understood passion in her own way. She worked as a dentist who values precision and discipline, two qualities she poured into her son’s daily routine. Julio often recalls how his mom emphasized education as much as baseball, reminding him that the game can vanish in an instant. And yet, she was also the loudest supporter, always there keeping him humble.

Put together, the two made an intimidating team. One instilled discipline, the other injected belief. Neither carried a professional athletic resume, but both understood the game well enough to give their son the structure he needed.

What is their ethnicity?

The origins of Julio form an essential part of his entire life story. Both of his parents are proudly Dominican. They were born and brought up in the same cultural heritage that gave birth to baseball legends, including David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, and Robinson Cano.

The small town of Loma de Cabrera exists off most baseball maps, yet it became Julio Rodriguez and his family it became the ideal home base. His parents ensured he always remembered where he came from. Even when scouts began picking him and the lure for the U.S. became real, he remained true to himself.

So now, when Julio waves the Dominican flag after a big win or dedicates milestones to his hometown, it isn’t a PR move; it’s the echo of his parents’ pride. And that pride is mutual, too. Loma de Cabrera, and really the entire Dominican Republic, celebrates Julio’s rise as if it were their own. For Yasmin and Julio Sr., their ethnicity isn’t just a background detail. It’s their son representing a nation that continuously produces baseball greatness.

How did they help Julio excel in baseball? Everything you need to know.

Talent gets you noticed. Support systems turn you into a star. Julio’s rise proves that. From day one, Yasmin filled her son’s life with belief. Buying him that bat before birth wasn’t just playful; it set the tone for how she saw his future. Even through her own struggles, including mental health battles that Julio later spoke about in a deeply personal 2024 interview with NPR Illinois. She never stopped being a source of love. Those difficult years weren’t easy. Julio described moments of instability and fear. But instead of breaking him, she gave him strength and tried to get past that time. In his words, “It’s amazing to have parents that have your back all of the time and are there for you no matter what.”

Meanwhile, Julio Sr. supplied the structure. As an agricultural engineer by trade, he thought in terms of systems and routines. He trained his son with that same mindset. Focus on mechanics, pay attention to details, and learn how to adjust. And when scouts came calling, he made sure the family evaluated opportunities carefully. Together, they created an environment where baseball wasn’t just a dream but a discipline. They cheered loudly, yes, but they also demanded effort. They allowed Julio to believe, but they also made him earn it.

When the Mariners finally signed him, it wasn’t just Julio’s victory. It was a shared success for a mother who had imagined it from the start and a father who had been there with a bucket of balls in the yard. Even now, with Julio a star in the league, their fingerprints are still visible in his work ethic and humility.