The Mariners have struck gold with Victor Robles

The Seattle Mariners have been going through a rough month of July with multiple players not living up to expectations at the plate. This has led to a 6-12 record through July 24th. However, there has been one shining bright spot in this stretch and that is Victor Robles. He has been the best player for the Mariners in the month of July, hitting .414 with a .500 on-base percentage. Robles has been playing up to the former top prospect he was who evaluators thought could be a difference-maker.

His ability to put the ball in play and cause opposing pitchers and defenses to have to make plays to get him out. In the first game of the Angels series after the All-Star break, Robles moved up in the box with two strikes, and with no stride, he hit a soft ground ball to Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon that Robles beat out and got on base with an infield single. That type of effort to put the ball in play is refreshing since the issue of the Mariners striking out too much has been bantered about plenty.

Back in 2019, he was a top-five prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, who said, "Robles' speed and defense give him an inherently high floor as a big leaguer, while his ceiling of a top-of-the-order center fielder who hits for both average and power could make him a perennial All-Star."

Victor Robles has been a welcome sight for the Mariners lineup

Robles has not lived up to the All Star type player he had the potential to be, but he has played like one for the last month in limited playing time. He has been hitting for average in a lineup that has not been so he has been a positive standout. He has been helping keep the Mariners afloat at the top of the American League West division and will continue to provide help at the top of the Mariners lineup and in center field while Julio Rodriguez is on the Injured List with an ankle sprain.

If Robles was not on this team right now the Mariners might be a few games behind the Astros and the M's would have to be on the lookout for a temporary center fielder while Rodriguez is hurt. Ty France might also still be on this roster because Luke Raley would be needed in center field. Robles recent success allows the Mariners to focus on acquiring corner outfielders because he can still play a good center field.

It is incredibly exciting for the Mariners to have possibly helped a player who was struggling return to a former version of himself or start to show the potential that the Washington Nationals thought was there five years ago. The Mariners have been ridiculed as a team that has players who struggle in Seattle but go on to find success elsewhere, and it would be nice if the Mariners have been able to help find a fix for Victor Robles.