Drew Robinson Has The Rangers’ Attention

Drew Robinson (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

ARLINGTON—The addition of Ronald Guzman to the Rangers’ 40-man roster came as no surprise after the towering first baseman backed up his breakthrough 2015 season with a better campaign in 2016.

Judging by the uncertain state of first base in the big leagues at the start of the offseason, Guzman could be closing in on the majors.

Drew Robinson didn’t come as much of a surprise, either. Not if you look at his 2016 season, though he has had a sometimes bumpy journey through the minors.

But his uptick in power from the left side and his ability to play multiple positions made him too valuable to leave unprotected from the Rule 5 draft.

“When we drafted Drew, we discovered very quickly that his athletic ability and his profile that he could play the infield and the outfield,” farm director Jayce Tingler said. “He’s got a lot of momentum, and a lot of people are talking about that versatility.”

Robinson, the Rangers’ fourth-round pick in 2010 out of high school in Las Vegas, has cleared 20 homers the past two seasons while playing every position except pitcher and catcher. He’s athletic enough to play center field, another position where the Rangers were thin entering the offseason.

In 2015 and during his first big league camp last spring, Robinson played primarily second base. During 2016 stops at Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, though, he spent more time in the outfield.

He also impressed the Rangers with a desire to play winter ball, and he’s played in both the Dominican and Venezuelan Leagues this winter. With the Rangers placing an emphasis on player versatility, Robinson looms as a potential key bench piece.

“That’s the main thing,” Tingler said. “When you look at big league teams, any time you can have a guy play first base one day and center field the next day, that’s a valuable asset. That’s the skill set Drew has.”

RANGER ROUNDUP

• The Rangers named Mike Daly their assistant general manager/director of international scouting and moved Tingler off the big league coaching staff to take Daly’s role as assistant GM/farm director. The moves came after Thad Levine left his post as assistant GM to be Minnesota’s GM.

• Outfielder Jared Hoying, who made his major league debut in May and was included on the Rangers’ roster for the American League Division Series, was not tendered a contract for 2017 and became a free agent. Hoying spent most of 2016 at Triple-A Round Rock and hit .269/.336/.474 with 16 homers and 66 RBIs at the level.