Mauricio Robles
Encyclopedia
Mauricio Antonio Robles (born March 5, 1989 in Valencia, Venezuela
) is a professional baseball
pitcher in the Seattle Mariners
organization. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Detroit Tigers
on April 1, .
Robles has a basic fastball
, curveball
, changeup
combination. He has been described as having a good arm with a good fastball and developing secondary pitches. While his fastball has been clocked as high as 97 mph, his changeup is being called his best pitch and described as a plus offering by peers and coaches.
relievers with 11.25 strikeouts per nine innings in .
He topped all starting pitchers with 10.83 strikeouts per nine innings in . He was also second in the Venezuelan Summer League with six losses, finished third with 83 strikeout
s and tied for fifth with 14 starts.
In 2008, he went 5-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 appearances, including 16 starts, for the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps
. He also ranked ninth in the Midwest League
with a 1.55 ERA in five starts during July.
On July 31, he was traded from the Tigers to the Seattle Mariners
along with fellow pitcher Luke French
for veteran pitcher Jarrod Washburn
.
He currently plays for the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks
of the California League
. As of September 5 he is 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 34 strikeouts in seven games, six starts.
Valencia, Venezuela
Valencia is the capital city of Carabobo State, and the third largest city of Venezuela.The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. The population of Valencia reached some 1.5 million in the year 2003, and it is expected to grow dramatically...
) is a professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher in the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on April 1, .
Robles has a basic fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
combination. He has been described as having a good arm with a good fastball and developing secondary pitches. While his fastball has been clocked as high as 97 mph, his changeup is being called his best pitch and described as a plus offering by peers and coaches.
Seattle Mariners
Robles finished fourth among Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer LeagueVenezuelan Summer League
The Venezuelan Summer League is a minor league baseball rookie league which operates in Carabobo and Aragua states, Venezuela.The VSL was created in 1997, after several operational years of the Major League Baseball's academies in the country...
relievers with 11.25 strikeouts per nine innings in .
He topped all starting pitchers with 10.83 strikeouts per nine innings in . He was also second in the Venezuelan Summer League with six losses, finished third with 83 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and tied for fifth with 14 starts.
In 2008, he went 5-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 appearances, including 16 starts, for the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps
West Michigan Whitecaps
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.-Franchise history:...
. He also ranked ninth in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
with a 1.55 ERA in five starts during July.
On July 31, he was traded from the Tigers to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
along with fellow pitcher Luke French
Luke French
Detective Sergeant Luke French is a fictional police officer of the Criminal Investigation Department within Wyvern Constabulary's, Holby South Police Station. His character is featured in Holby Blue, a spin-off of the long running medical drama Holby City.-Character history:Luke is one of the...
for veteran pitcher Jarrod Washburn
Jarrod Washburn
Jarrod Michael Washburn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and currently resides in his hometown of Webster, Wisconsin.-High school / college:...
.
He currently plays for the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks
High Desert Mavericks
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. As of September 5 he is 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 34 strikeouts in seven games, six starts.