Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Stephen Strasburg, and Max Scherzer are the hot topics concerning the Washington Nationals in the public eye. However, a vital piece to the puzzle has become a forgotten commodity: center fielder Victor Robles.
Perhaps it’s Soto’s rise to prominence or the hamstring injury Robles suffered in the Nationals’ first-round playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the 22-year-old outfield commander has been cast aside a bit. And he has the skill set and potential to the extent where that shouldn’t have happened.
In his first full season in the big leagues, and as a full-time starter, Robles was exceptional. Hitting .255 while recording a .745 OPS and totaling 17 home runs and 65 RBIs, he was an underrated source of offense for manager Dave Martinez in the regular season. Robles is a power hitter, which can be a bit surprising given his 185-pound frame. He hits the ball with power to all fields, totaled 53 extra-base hits, and flat-out blasts fastballs.
Sure, he racked up more strikeouts than hits (140:139), but you’d expect a youngster to whiff at pitches and hit for the long ball; Robles’ plate…
Read “Victor Robles Has Become the Forgotten Man for the Washington Nationals” at Baseball Essential
