Two weeks into the regular season, manager Dave Martinez sees more than just numbers in his assessment of Victor Robles’ progress. There is the work Robles has put in off the field — including being out of the lineup recently for dedicated time to address his hitting — and the attitude he brings around his teammates.
“He’s ready every day, and he wants to play hard,” Martinez said. “He’s not selfish at all. He’s the most unselfish kid I know. He wants to help his team, and that’s all he worries about.”
Robles entered Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the D-backs batting 1-for-21 in his first nine games of 2022. Martinez emphasized before the matinee, “He’s seeing pitches, his swings are a lot better.” After Madison Bumgarner took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, it was Robles who broke it up with a sharp line-drive double into left field that drove in Alcides Escobar for the game-tying run.
“He feels it, and he feels good,” Martinez said. “I have to reiterate, ‘It’s because of what you’re doing every day that’s giving you an opportunity to put up good at-bats.’”
Robles, a 2019 Gold Glove Award finalist who finished last season in Triple-A, said he does not focus on his own statistics. He is putting in the preparation and work to build toward improved results. If the team puts up a win, it is a good day for him.
“We spend more time with [our teammates] than I do with my own family, so for me, they are my family,” Robles said. “As long as we’re all doing well, I’m happy for all of them.”
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