Mauricio Robles

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #26 prospect in 2012
  Acquired along with Luke French from the Tigers at the 2009 trade deadline in exchange for Jarrod Washburn, Robles pitched well in his first full season with the Mariners and ranked No. 6 on this list a year ago. But 2011 was essentially a lost year for the Venezuelan lefty. He had bone chips removed from his elbow in March and never was quite right upon returning. Instead of sitting at 91-94 mph with his fastball, like he had in the past, Robles pitched at 89-91. His secondary pitches also slipped after he previously showed flashes of a plus changeup and average curveball. Though he has displayed enough pitches to start, his control never has been good--he has averaged 5.0 walks per nine innings as a pro--and he lost his margin for error in 2011. Robles still could make it as a No. 4 or 5 starter if his stuff recovers, and he always could find a home in the bullpen. How he looks in spring training will determine how Seattle handles him in 2012.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #6 prospect in 2011
  The Mariners snagged Robles and Luke French from the Tigers at the 2009 trade deadline in exchange for Jarrod Washburn. Washburn bombed in Detroit and Robles is now one of Seattle's best prospects, ranking fourth in the Southern League in strikeouts (120) and opponent average (.239) in 2010. Robles doesn't cast an imposing figure, but he has a lot of strength in his 5-foot-10 frame. He has an aggressive delivery and a fastball that sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95 deep into games. Because of his youth, strength and willingness to pitch off his fastball, scouts believe he will still add more velocity. He has the best changeup in the system, a potential plus pitch with good fade. He controls it better than his curveball, which flashes tight rotation but is still inconsistent. He needs to work on throwing strikes more frequently. Scouts think the problem is more mental than mechanical, as he sometimes tries to blow his fastball by hitters instead of trusting his other pitches. After joining Tacoma for a successful Pacific Coast League playoff run at the end of 2010, Robles will return to Triple-A. Robles was added to the Mariners' 40-man roster. He has the stuff to pitch in the middle of a big league rotation and could make his Seattle debut later in the season.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #13 prospect in 2010
  The Tigers surrendered Robles and Luke French to the Mariners in late July when they wanted Jarrod Washburn to slot behind Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson in the rotation. An outfielder prior to signing, Robles jumped from the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League to full-season ball in 2008. He's short but strong, especially in the lower half, and he made strides in repeating his delivery in 2009. He sat at 90-91 mph and touched 95, and he also held his velocity deeper into games. Robles throws a power curveball in the low 80s, a pitch that rates as below-average now but flashes plus potential. He tends to slow his arm down to throw his breaking ball and changeup. If he develops a better feel for his changeup, he could mature into a No. 4 or 5 starter. He certainly has the bulldog demeanor required. Robles finished the year with six strong starts for High Desert and then blitzed through two California League playoff outings, whiffing 13 in 11 innings. He'll likely return to high Class A to start the year.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #24 prospect in 2009
  The Tigers fielded a Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League team for the first time in 2007, and Robles became the first player from that roster to reach a full-season affiliate. He was among the youngest starters in the low Class A Midwest League last year, when he had a remarkable run of success at pitcher-friendly Fifth Third Ballpark. He allowed only one earned run in 51 innings--for a 0.18 ERA. Inconsistent command and fastball velocity was an issue on the road, where he had a 5.80 ERA with 39 walks in 40 innings. Reports vary on Robles' fastball. When he's on his game, he has a 91-94 mph heater with tailing life. When he's not, it sits at 88-91 mph with less movement. His velocity has been known to fluctuate even from inning to inning, though he peaked at 95 during instructional league. Short but athletic, Robles was an outfielder before signing in 2006. His inability to repeat his delivery is a significant concern. His curveball averages 82-83 mph and has some depth but lacks a consistent shape. He throws the curve with a noticeably slower arm speed. He has below-average command across the board, and his changeup isn't well developed. Robles remains very raw but he could rise through the system once he learns to harness and trust his stuff. First-pitch strikes will be vital to his development this year in Class A.