Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez has returned from a concussion; a bat found near the University of Washington has tested positive for rabies; and President Trump fired Seattle’s newly confirmed federal prosecutor just hours after his appointment by judges.
Rodríguez returns: Mariners get their main star back
Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez is finally back in action after an injury sustained on July 2. In Saturday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, he entered the field as the designated hitter. It was one day later than the club had hoped, but the key point is that the star player successfully cleared all the concussion-return protocols. Rodríguez was forced out of the game after he was struck in the back of the head by a pitch while trying to advance from first to second base.
The club immediately placed him on a seven-day injured list with a concussion, and initially it was expected he would be ready to return right after the All-Star break. But the medical staff decided to be cautious. As Seattle general manager Justin Hollander said in an interview ahead of Friday’s game, head injuries can’t be rushed—symptoms can present differently for different players over different lengths of time. That’s why Rodríguez completed a full day of pregame workouts on Friday, and only after confirming he felt well did the team decide to activate him.
To make room on the roster for Rodríguez’s return, the club designated Miles Mastrobuoni for assignment (DFA). Notably, before the injury Rodríguez had been producing uneven numbers. Over the season overall, he had 14 home runs, 40 RBI, a .259 batting average and an .747 OPS. But after a strong May—when he hit 10 home runs with an .899 OPS—June brought a slump that mirrored the rest of the team: just a .248 batting average and four extra-base hits.
The Mariners are now in urgent need of offensive help, and the return of their leader could be a key factor in their push for the playoffs. As noted in a piece by The Seattle Times, the club doesn’t want to rush things, but Rodríguez being in the lineup already brings optimism into the clubhouse. It’s important to stress that although he’s returning as a designated hitter, this is a temporary measure—an outfielder needs to build up his form gradually before returning to defensive play.
Rodríguez’s return is not just a statistical boost; it’s an emotional spark for a team going through a difficult stretch. His extra-base hitting and explosive play in May showed what he’s capable of when healthy. Right now, the task for the Mariners is to integrate him back into the game smoothly, without overloading his body after the effects of a concussion.
A rabid bat found near the University of Washington
In Seattle, a rabid bat was found on a sidewalk near the University of Washington and, as laboratory tests confirmed, it was infected with rabies. The Seattle & King County Public Health Service warned residents of a possible risk and asked anyone who might have had contact with the animal to seek medical attention immediately.
The incident occurred on July 15 on University Avenue, between NE 41st and NE 42nd streets, near the Parrington lawn. The rabies test came back positive on Friday. As The Seattle Times reports, authorities recommend calling 206-296-4774 to determine whether preventive treatment is necessary, even if contact was limited to touching the bat’s saliva rather than only a bite or scratch.
Jocelyn Mullins, a veterinarian with the health department, emphasized that rabies is treatable if detected before symptoms appear, so it is crucial to identify and contact as quickly as possible everyone who may have had contact with the infected animal. Contact means not only a direct bite, but also any contact between exposed skin and the bat or its saliva. If your pet may have had contact with this bat, you should contact your veterinarian.
Dogs, cats, ferrets and horses should have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, but in the event of exposure to an infected animal they will need a booster. Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and is transmitted through the saliva of an infected mammal. After symptoms begin, it almost always results in death—but if treatment is started right after possible exposure, it can be prevented.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early symptoms include weakness, discomfort, fever or headache, as well as unpleasant sensations such as tingling or itching at the site of the bite. It’s important to remember that the incubation period can last from several weeks to several months, so any potential exposure requires immediate medical attention.
Public health officials also remind residents that bats are a natural reservoir for rabies in the wild, so if you encounter them, you should never touch them with bare hands.
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Trump fires Seattle’s new federal prosecutor appointed by judges just an hour after his confirmation
U.S. President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff, who had been unanimously appointed by federal judges in the Western District of Washington as the top federal prosecutor for Seattle, just minutes after he was sworn in. Rogoff, a former judge and a veteran of the state and federal prosecutor’s offices, managed to take the oath in a courthouse in downtown around 8 a.m., after which he went to the prosecutor’s office to meet Charles Neil Floyd, the acting prosecutor whose 120-day term had expired back in February.
However, while he waited in the reception area, he received an email from the Trump administration informing him he had been fired. Rogoff said he is consulting with lawyers about whether to file a lawsuit over the decision.
The incident is yet another example of tension between the judiciary and the president over the appointment of federal prosecutors. Typically, such prosecutors are appointed by the president and must be confirmed by the Senate, with the exception of temporary appointments. When a temporary appointment expires before a nominee is confirmed, district judges have the authority to appoint a prosecutor themselves. But under Trump, the Department of Justice has sought to keep unconfirmed prosecutors in office indefinitely, using unconventional staffing moves. For example, after Floyd’s term expired, Trump simply changed his role to that of First Assistant U.S. Attorney, leaving the top job vacant—an approach the administration has used in other districts as well.
In May, an appeals court raised doubts about the legality of that tactic, prompting the Seattle judges to open applications themselves and appoint a bipartisan commission to review them.
On Wednesday morning, a panel of 17 active and senior judges appointed by five different presidents unanimously selected Rogoff. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche immediately said on social media that district judges can appoint an acting prosecutor, but the president has the right to fire that person—and he accused the judges of abandoning “the long-established practice of consulting with the administration.”
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington criticized the firing, calling it part of the administration’s effort to “install its cronies to push a corrupt political agenda.”
Rogoff is not the first prosecutor appointed by judges who was instantly fired by Trump. Earlier, Alina Habba, a former Trump attorney, left her post as prosecutor in New Jersey after an appeals court ruled her appointment unlawful. And Lindsay Halligan, who had handled cases against two Trump opponents, left her role in Virginia after a judge ruled her appointment illegal and dismissed the charges she had brought against James Comey and others. Judges in Virginia appointed James Handley as her replacement, who had worked on criminal and civil matters for more than 30 years, but the administration also fired him and a prosecutor appointed by judges in the northern part of New York State.
Rogoff himself acknowledged that he knew he could be fired immediately, but he had no doubts about accepting the appointment: “Being a U.S. attorney is the best job for a lawyer. I’m very proud of my career. That the judges of this district—most of whom I know from my work—found me to be the right person is incredibly inspiring.”
In a conversation with AP for PBS, he added that he is now consulting with attorneys regarding a potential lawsuit.
The case highlights not only the conflict between branches of government, but also the practical consequences: uncertainty in leadership at federal prosecutors’ offices can delay investigations and court proceedings, and undermine the independence of law enforcement. Prosecutors appointed by judges are generally considered more impartial, but they can be removed instantly by the president, raising questions about the balance of powers. Rogoff’s firing is another illustration of how the Trump administration is changing long-standing procedures to maintain control over key legal positions—even at the cost of court fights and the loss of experienced personnel.
