A 'ball of energy,' Robles finding balance in Seattle

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The echo off the bat was almost as loud as the boisterous hitter holding it, a screamer over the left fielder’s head on Saturday that one-hopped the wall and turned into a double.

The eye test suggested that the knock was more notable than most, at least for Victor Robles, and the exit velocity readings confirmed as much -- 112.5 mph, harder than any batted ball from the Mariners outfielder in a regular season or postseason game since he broke into the Majors in 2017.

It was just one hit, and in a Cactus League game against the White Sox that the Mariners trailed by as many as 16 runs. But it was also the type of moment that added more credibility to Robles sustaining his major, mid-career breakout from last season.

“I feel very comfortable,” Robles said through an interpreter. “I feel at home when I’m up at home plate. At the end of the day, I’m the one that’s going to decide what I’m going to do with each pitch -- whether I’m going to swing at it or not -- so the confidence is key.”

Robles was a revelation last year in Seattle, making him one of the best stories of the season.

After being released by the Nationals on June 1, he signed an MLB deal three days later with the Mariners -- who were seeking depth and more production from their outfield spots -- with the initial plan of platooning Robles against lefties and using him as a bench player with speed who could be installed late in games.

But Robles seized the opportunity and played his way into an everyday gig, at times carrying Seattle’s scuffling offense. By the time that Dominic Canzone was placed on the injured list on July 10, Robles had blossomed into Seattle’s regular right fielder, and later that month he became a mainstay at leadoff.

“I wouldn't say I felt uncomfortable, but it was something new,” Robles said. “It was meeting new players. I didn't feel like I wasn't part of that family, it was coming into like a new family. And luckily for them, they roped me in pretty well. They took me in. And you saw the results at the end of the season. So being here, starting from the beginning of the season, I'm very excited about it.”

In 77 games with the Mariners, Robles slashed .328/.393/.467 (.860 OPS) with four homers, 20 doubles and 26 RBIs, good for 3.2 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, and a 155 OPS+ (league average is 100). Among Mariners with at least 250 plate appearances, his 16.8% strikeout rate was the lowest, while the team as a whole had MLB’s highest (26.8%).

The Mariners were so convinced that they’d unlocked something that they signed Robles to a two-year, $9.75 million extension on Aug. 12 that includes $2 million in performance incentives and a $9 million club option for 2027.

“He’s an awesome fit for our team,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. “He’s a ball of energy. He makes it go.”

The biggest question facing Robles in 2025 is just how sustainable the breakout was. He essentially played in half a season in Seattle and was as banged-up as any player down the stretch given how hard he plays -- having dealt with hamstring, hip flexor and wrist/hand injuries -- but was never placed on the injured list.

Some of that volatility also led to performance miscues -- no moment more costly than when Robles was thrown out attempting to steal home with the bases loaded in an eventual loss to the Yankees on Sept. 17.

Postgame, Mariners manager Dan Wilson commended Robles’ aggression but also noted that the situation probably didn’t call for it.

“Sometimes Vic is going to get thrown out on a play that he shouldn’t make, but he’s got to be him,” Dipoto said. “He’s letting it eat. He’s letting his game play. I encouraged him, and so did Dan. Nobody wants to reel it back in.”

The parameters of Robles’ contract extension clearly account for his playing style, as he can earn $500,000 for accumulating 500 and 600 plate appearances for 2025 and 2026 each. He’s only once achieved 500 plate appearances in a season, in 2019, when he also achieved 600 and was a sparkplug in helping the Nationals win that year’s World Series.

It’s also clear that the Mariners hope he achieves those numbers, because if so, it means he’s healthy and producing.