Mauricio Robles

Mauricio Antonio Robles

• Throws Left, Bats Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 215 lb.
• High School Colegio Las Californias
• Debut September 3, 2013
• Final Game September 26, 2013
• Born March 5, 1989 in Valencia, Carabobo Venezuela

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Biographical Information

Mauricio Robles came to the majors in 2013.

Robles was originally signed by Detroit Tigers scout German Robles in 2006. He was 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA that summer for the VSL Tigers/Marlins, striking out 20 but walking 16 in 16 innings. In 2007, he was 3-6 with a 3.26 ERA for the VSL Tigers with 90 K to 27 BB in 69 IP. He led the Venezuelan Summer League in strikeout rate, tied for second in losses and was third in strikeouts (behind Freddy Ballestas and Juan Colmenarez). He made his US debut in a full-season league, going 5-3 with a 2.66 ERA and .176 opponent average for the 2008 West Michigan Whitecaps. He did walk 54 in 91 1/3 IP to tie for 8th in the Midwest League in free passes.

Mauricio began 2009 with West Michigan (4-4, 4.63, 71 K in 56 1/3 IP) and then moved up to the Lakeland Flying Tigers (4-2, 3.60). Detroit then dealt him with Luke French to the Seattle Mariners for Jarrod Washburn. He was 3-2 with a 2.78 ERA for the High Desert Mavericks to finish his season 11-8 with a 3.86 ERA and 145 K in 123 2/3 IP. He walked 60 as control remained spotty. He made his Venezuelan Winter League debut with the Leones del Caracas, walking 3, striking out 5 and giving up 3 hits and 2 runs in 2 2/3 IP over 8 games as a LOOGY.

Robles spent 2010 with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (6-6, 4.11) and Tacoma Rainiers (3-1, 3.54), reaching AAA at age 21. He struck out 154 and walked 71 in 142 innings. Among Mariners farmhands, he tied Michael Pineda for the most whiffs but walked 14 more than anyone else. He also tied Chris Withrow for 4th in the Southern League in strikeouts despite a partial season there. He pitched two postseason games for Tacoma, which won the 2010 PCL title. In 10 games for the Cardenales de Lara that winter, he had mixed results (7 BB, 12 H, but only 3 R, 2 ER in 6 2/3 IP).

Mauricio missed both the start and end of 2011 due to elbow issues that required surgery; he was 1-5 with a 8.91 ERA and 33 walks in 32 1/3 IP between three stops that year when "healthy". Winter ball was even worse as he was 0-1 with 4 hits, 6 walks and 10 runs in only one inning over three outings. Moving to relief in 2012, he pitched for Tacoma (0-3, 9.86 in 6 G) and the Jackson Generals (2-2, 4.09 in 37 G, 50 K, 41 BB in 50 2/3 IP). He began the winter with Lara (0 R in 1 IP) and was traded to the Tiburones de La Guaira for Jesus Solorzano. He was 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 22 games for the Tiburones.

Waived by Seattle, he was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was very sharp for the Reading Fightin Phils (3-1, 2 Sv, 2.77 in 17 G, 37 K in 26 IP, .204 opponent average) and Lehigh Valley IronPigs (2-2, 7 Sv, 1.42, .137 opponent average) though control remained spotty (44 BB in 64 IP). The minuscule opponent averages though led to a September call-up.

In his major league debut on September 3, 2013, Robles showed his old control problems, throwing only 14 of 30 pitches for strikes. He entered in the top of the 6th with a 5-2 deficit against the Washington Nationals. He struck out opposing hurler Gio Gonzalez, but Denard Span reached on an error by Cody Asche. After a balk, Span stole third and Robles walked Ryan Zimmerman. Bryce Harper hit into a force at the plate, but Jayson Werth singled on a 3-0 count to score one run and Ian Desmond singled on a 2-0 count to score another. Adam LaRoche grounded out to end the inning. Erik Kratz batted for Robles in the bottom of the inning.

Sources

• Purapelota
• 2013 Phillies Media Guide
• El Universal article on the Tiburones-Cardenales trade
• MILB.com

Related Sites

• Mauricio Robles on mlb.com