Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles completely erupted during a rehab assignment on Sunday night, throwing a bat at a pitcher after he was hit resulting in Robles' ejection from the minor league game.
Robles, who is currently playing with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate out of Tacoma, was hit by a pitch in the third inning against the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics. Aviators starter Joe Estes’ first pitch to Robles went high and inside, and hit Robles near his head, though he swung at the pitch before it made contact.
Robles, after briefly collecting himself, then launched the bat hard at Estes. Robles was immediately thrown out of the game while the catcher stood there, stunned. Robles then charged at Estes and had to be held back as things escalated quickly on the field.
Robles eventually walked away and into the dugout. He ended up throwing a big box of seeds out onto the field before finally leaving for good. The seeds went everywhere while both teams stood around near the mound.
Hours later, Robles posted an apology to his Instagram story:
"I want to take a moment to sincerely apologize for my recent reaction on the field. I let my frustration get the best of me, and I understand how that may have affected not just the game, but the energy and respect we all work so hard to maintain.
"Coming off a long rehab and being away from the game for most of the season has been physically and mentally challenging. Adding to that, the recent passing of my mother has been incredibly hard, and I've been doing my best to hold it together. That's not an excuse, but some context I feel you deserve to understand where I'm coming from.
"Getting hit 5 times in 15 at-bats added to that pressure, and I reacted in a way I'm not proud of. This game means the world to me, and so do the people who play it. I respect every one of you — my teammates, the opposing players, and everyone in this league.
"I'm committed to being better, not just as a player, but as a teammate and competitor. I appreciate your understanding, and I'm grateful to be back on the field doing what I love. Thank you."
Robles has been recovering from a dislocated shoulder he went down with while trying to make a catch for the Mariners in April. He ran hard into the wall and netting at Oracle Park during a game against the San Francisco Giants, but awkwardly bent back and fell to the ground after making the catch. He was later carted off the field.
Robles made his first rehab assignment in Tacoma on Tuesday night. He’s now been hit by a pitch at least three times in his short time with the team. It’s unclear if anything else happened Sunday night to prompt that reaction, though he’s likely to face punishment from the league in the near future.
Robles signed with the Mariners midway through last season after he spent his first eight years in the league with the Washington Nationals. He held a .273 average and .624 OPS with 12 hits in 10 games before he went down with the shoulder injury.
It’s unclear how long Robles was going to play in the minors before the incident, but Sunday’s outburst certainly doesn’t help things for him. The Mariners, meanwhile, hold a 68-57 record and sit in second in the AL West.
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