Seattle Mariners Outfielder Comments on His Solid Stretch With The Team
SEATTLE — With all the craziness going on with the Seattle Mariners right now, it's hard to find many bright spots.
The offense was already struggling and took some extra dings this past week with the injuries to Julio Rodriguez and JP Crawford.
One consistent positive in the Mariners' lineup has been the emergence of outfielder and former World Series champion Victor Robles.
Robles signed with Seattle on June 4 after being released by the Washington Nationals on June 1.
Robles didn't get many opportunities to start for the Mariners in his first month with the club. In July, he's earned his way into the starting lineup and has made the most of it.
Most of Robles' early starts came as a spot-starter against left-handed pitchers. He's played mostly the corner outfield positions this season but has started in center field the last couple days due to the injury to Rodriguez — which was his natural position in D.C.
"I'm always ready to play any position," Robles said Wednesday via a translator. "I know I've played most of my career out in center field. But even that — I was still prepared because there was any opportunity to come up where you had to play in the corners. So, I always come out here and get ready as if I'm playing any position."
He's hitting .394 in July with a home run and two RBIs.
in 25 games as a Mariner:
— Steve (@MarinersSteve) July 22, 2024
Victor Robles is slashing .390//.468//.585 with a 204 wRC+
He's been a huge midseason acquisition and probably our best hitter in July. pic.twitter.com/3p1n72ynAu
"I think the most important thing for me was coming in with the mentality of just trying to have fun," Robles said. "Trying to bring that positive energy. Maybe the team's not in its best moment but but we are in a good position. So for me it's all mentality."
Robles' positive attitude in the dugout and the clubhouse, even when he wasn't getting many chances to play, was something that Seattle manager Scott Servais praised on several occasions.
Robles' value on the team can also be seen in the boxscores, but he also brought over something else of value from the nation's capital — a championship mentality.
He was on the Nationals' 2019 championship team and knows first hand what it takes for a team to get to the dance. Now in the eighth year of his career, he's the exact kind of veteran presence that helped him navigate his time with Washington.
"When I came up that one year, I was surrounded by a lot of vets," Robles said. "We all played like one. You could say it was one team — but it was like one player out there. And it was all about that — having that mentality. Just going out there and having fun."
In regards to building that kind of synergy and unity with the Mariners lineup, Robles thinks it comes down to everyone buying into being in the moment.
"I think it's just (about) living in that beautiful moment I'm living in right now," Robles said. "We have a good team, we have a great (pitching) staff. We just got to go out there and try to spark this up and give the best that I can."
Robles' speed along the basepaths has been a huge plus to the team. Robles has 12 steals this season. He snagged seven of those bases in July. He has something else that distinguishes him from the rest of his peers — his batting stance.
Victor Robles making things happen! 😎 pic.twitter.com/aUwmezWzV4
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 14, 2024
Robles holds the bat out from his body almost perpendicular to himself. It's a departure from the typical image of a batter holding the bat above the shoulder.
It's unique and it's working.
"I think two years now I've had that same stance," Robles said. "It's given me results. But I think part of it is just me trying to not give too much movement. Just trying to be more short and more precise with that stance."
There's still 58 games left in the season and Seattle is one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West. There's many things the Mariners need to do to make the playoff push. Whatever they do, Robles has earned the right to be a central piece in it.
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