The former World Series champion is ready to earn the second ring of his career.
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are set to take on the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of an American League Divisional Series at 5:38 p.m. PT on Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Victor Robles will play right field and bat eighth Saturday. Back in April, the possibility of him playing again in 2025 was in doubt.
Robles missed most of the season due to a left shoulder fracture/dislocation he suffered making a highlight catch against the San Francisco Giants on April 6.
Robles was originally slated to return late-August to mid-September. He was ahead of schedule and began a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Aug. 12, but spent additional time out serving a suspension for throwing his bat at a pitcher in Triple-A after getting hit by a pitch.
Robles returned from the suspension and made another season-defining catch, to much better results than his April snag. He made a game-ending catch in Game 2 of a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Sept. 20. Seattle swept Houston in that series, which led the M's to earn their first AL West championship since 2001.
With his injury and suspension behind him, Robles is to help the Mariners get to heights the franchise hasn't experienced in its history.
"It's definitely a privilege," Robles said in a pregame news conference via translator Freddy Llanos Saturday. " ... I honestly didn't think I was gonna make it in time."
Robles isn't a stranger to deep playoff runs. In 2019, he won the World Series with the Washington Nationals. Before the '19 playoffs, the Nationals hadn't won the pennant — similarly to Seattle.
"I think the 2019 team had a lot more vets. A lot of guys that already had several years playing the game," Robles said. "In terms of talent, I think (the two teams are) similar. I've said it before — the same vibes, the same kind of mentality — going out there with the same purpose. I think this team has really collectively come together."
In his limited time on the field this season, Robles has scored 12 runs in 32 games and has hit four doubles, a triple and a home run with nine RBIs. He slashed .245/.281/.330 with a .611 OPS. He's stolen six bases in eight attempts.
Before the year, Robles, alongside Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena were heralded as one of the best outfield cores the team had in years.
The trio had a small sample size together to prove that assessment right, but they now have a chance to do so when it matters most.
"I think it's just the energy we bring," Robles said. "We go out there and we really enjoy the game. It's kind of the name of baseball. It's a game, it's something to go enjoy. I think when we go out there and give 100%, you can definitely tell that all of us are just out there and just having fun."
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