Robles Leads East To Fall Stars Win

SCOTTSDALE—It’s obvious to fans and players alike just how much fun Victor Robles has in a game. The Nationals No. 1 prospect is always smiling, laughing and having a good time when he’s on the field and in the dugout.

The Arizona Fall League’s annual Fall Stars game was an especially enjoyable time for Robles, who earned MVP honors in the game won by the East squad, 4-2, in front of 4,214 fans at Salt River Fields.

Robles’ bloop single to left was the key moment in the East’s three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning, driving in Scottsdale shortstop Luis Guillorme (Mets) with the tying run. Two batters later, Robles scored the East’s go-ahead run on a single by Mesa third baseman Sheldon Neuse (Athletics).

Having fun on the field is the only way Robles knows how to play the game. It’s something he’s carried throughout his baseball career.

“This is a game,” Robles said through an interpreter, “and I go out and approach it like a game, having fun out there and enjoying the experience.”

Robles takes the game quite seriously, too, and the AFL offers him the chance to prepare himself for an extended stay in the big leagues in a relatively relaxed setting.

“At each level, the biggest thing I learned was how the pitchers throw,” Robles said. “They’re veterans at every level and they attack the zone more, so I learned how to bat in those situations … I’m working hard and it’s paying off.”

Since arriving in Arizona, Robles has worked closely with Mesa hitting coach Jacob Cruz, who has been impressed with what he’s seen in the young outfielder.

“Without a doubt, he comes as advertised,” Cruz said. “You see the tools right away. The one thing that’s impressed me has been his way of going about the game, his enthusiasm, his energy in the dugout and on the field. No doubt you see all the tools, but the thing that sets him apart is his character.”

It’s been quite the whirlwind season for the 20-year-old Robles, who started the year at high Class A Potomac before advancing to Double-A Harrisburg.

Robles thrived at every level and handled every challenge thrown at him, tolerating even the notorious mayflies that descend on Harrisburg’s FNB Field as the sun sets on City Island. Robles laughed at the memory of those pesky insects that spend their short lives wreaking havoc on the players and fans in Pennsylvania’s capital city.

“It’s the first time I dealt with these and they bothered me a lot,” Robles said, “but I continued hitting and continued playing.”

Despite all of the challenges of Double-A, Robles thrived. He ranked as the Eastern League’s No. 2 prospect (just as he did in the Carolina League) and showed the Nationals brass enough to earn a September callup. More than that, he also earned a spot on the team’s postseason roster.

For that, Robles is grateful.

“It was a great experience for me,” Robles said, “and it showed a lot how the organization and Dusty Baker thought about me … they had the confidence to bring me up and put me on the roster.”

SHEF’S SPECIAL

Scottsdale southpaw Justus Sheffield (Yankees) and Glendale righty Mitch Keller (Pirates) squared off as the Fall Stars Game’s starting pitchers, each yielding one run in their respective two-inning stints. Sheffield has arguably been the Fall League’s top pitching prospect, going 2-1, 2.37 in four starts.

He was most impressive in the Fall Stars game when he dominated a couple of excellent hitters, striking out Peoria infielder Michael Chavis (Red Sox) with a nasty 89-mph slider in the first inning and fanning designated hitter Francisco Mejia (Indians) on three pitches, the last a 95-mph fastball.

Sheffield’s fall comes after after spending most of 2017 with Double-A Trenton, where he finished with a 7-6, 3.18 in 17 starts. He missed nearly two months late in the season with an oblique injury before returning to make one start in early September.

In Arizona, Sheffield has focused on commanding his pitches and throwing strikes.

“I’m continuing to develop all of my pitches and my overall command,” Sheffield said, “keeping a consistent shape on my slider and continuing to work on my changeup. No new pitches … just a three-pitch repertoire and continuing to develop those.”

The 2017 season was Sheffield’s first full campaign in the Yankees organization after coming over in the July 2016 trade that sent Andrew Miller to the Indians. Just one year later, he’s very happy with his new organization.

“I’ve definitely settled in,” Sheffield said. “It was my first full season with the Yankees and it couldn’t have been more successful for me. I feel like I had a good year and accomplished my goals … It’s been a good transition … Ever since I came over to the Yankees, my maturity level has increased. I’m going about my business more seriously. It’s a different type of feeling when you put the pinstripes on.”

LOPEZ’S TIME

Two spots on the original Fall Stars rosters were left open to give fans the opportunity to vote for the last player on each team. Scottsdale first baseman Billy McKinney (Yankees) won the fan vote for the East team while Surprise shortstop Nicky Lopez (Royals) got the nod for the West.

Being named to the AFL’s annual televised showcase was just one more highlight of Lopez’s first full season that saw the Creighton product advance to Double-A a little over a year after being drafted by the Royals in the fifth round.

At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, it’s obvious that Lopez needs to get stronger to continue to advance, so adding strength is one of his key goals.

“It’s going to be a huge offseason for me,” Lopez said, “and I’m looking forward to it. I know what I need to do. Getting to Double-A and knowing I’m not too far away from the big leagues was big for me, and I know what I need to do now. I know that the physical aspect of the game is something I need to improve on.”

Lopez is off to a good start in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .386/.444/.544 thanks to changes he made to his approach at the plate.

“I’ve made some adjustments to my stance and swing,” Lopez said, “and to the bats I’ve been using. I’ve been swinging a heavier bat here.”

Lopez has the baseball smarts to help him compensate for his smaller size, with scouts lauding him for his advanced instincts on the field. He believes it’s what inside him that best helps him on the field.

“Baseball’s not a game of size,” Lopez said. “It’s all about how much you want it—your heart and just the enjoyment of playing the game. So when I come out here I just try to have so much fun playing … it’s only a game, and you need to have fun and play loose and just enjoy yourself when you’re out here.”

URIAS SHINES

Peoria shortstop Luis Urias (Padres) provided two of the biggest moments early in the Fall Stars game. The right-handed hitter from Mexico gave the West team its only lead with a fifth inning home run that traveled 416 feet to left-center off a 96-mph fastball from Adbert Alzolay (Cubs). An inning earlier, Urias made the game’s best defensive play with a diving stop of a sharp grounder up the middle to start an inning-ending double play.

It’s been a fine fall season for the 20-year-old Urias, with an outstanding slash line of .324/.460/.514 in the first four weeks. His AFL performance comes on the heels of a very impressive year at Double-A San Antonio where he showed his advanced hitting skills by walking more than he struck out and leading the Texas League in on-base percentage..

FRY AWAITS

While he didn’t get to make an appearance in the Fall Stars game, Glendale lefty Jace Fry (White Sox) was ready in the West bullpen if needed. Pitching in relief was a new role for the Oregon State alum during his 2017 season at Double-A Birmingham, plus 11 big league games, after missing all of 2016 with Tommy John surgery. He’s adapted to the new bullpen gig quite well.

“The difference mentality-wise is pitch execution into a game,” Fry said. “A lot of times you may only have 10-15 pitches to work with because you’re going to face the few batters that you get. It’s important to come in sharp, as opposed to the pitcher who’s starting gets to settle in and get the fastball command going and work from there. You may have to spin more sliders than you do fastballs (in relief). That’s the different mentality that you have coming out of the bullpen.”

Fry’s ability to take on the new role isn’t surprising considering the time he spent at Oregon State, perennially one of college baseball’s top programs.

“At Oregon State, the foundation they built is discipline-based,” Fry said. “Everything is about: Be on time, be ready, and really take it upon yourself to do everything you need to be accountable. Taking that moving forward has been huge and made it a lot easier going through the minors.”