The Mariners are right on the Astros’ heels in the AL West, sitting at 68-59 and just two games back from the top spot. Things were looking up despite an early-season setback in April, when Victor Robles went down with a dislocated left shoulder that kept him out for 12 weeks. He’s been working his way back on a rehab stint in the minors, but it looks like the team will be without him a while longer.
Well, Robles’ 2025 season has been one headache after another. The latest? During a Triple-A rehab game on Sunday, he tossed his bat in the direction of an opposing pitcher. And guess what? The league wasted no time handing out punishment, making an already rough season even tougher for him. Reportedly, Robles has been hit with a 10-game suspension and a fine after his actions.
MLB handed down the punishment, and Jomboy Media has shared the update: “Victor Robles has received a 10-game suspension from MLB for throwing his bat at the pitcher in a Minor League game. He is appealing. If it’s upheld, he’ll have to miss 10 Major League games when the Mariners recall him from the injured list.”
Note here, the suspension will not be applicable until the time Robles is in the Minors. He will miss the first 10 games once he gets activated to the majors again.
So, the story began in the third inning. Las Vegas starter Joey Estes threw his first pitch inside to Victor Robles, who swung defensively to avoid getting hit. After stepping back and dropping his bat, Robles picked it up and tossed it toward Estes, which led to an immediate ejection from home plate umpire Joe McCarthy.
Well, the Mariners slugger got HBP’d three times in his previous four games with Tacoma. So, Robles might have had enough before bursting out, but it came at a cost. At least for the Mariners.
The Mariners’ slugger sought apologies
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto credited Victor Robles for the way he’s handled things since Sunday’s outburst. Reportedly, Robles apologized directly to Tacoma manager John Russell and spoke to the entire Rainiers team in the clubhouse after the game. On Sunday, he also shared a lengthy apology on his Instagram story, taking full responsibility for what happened.
“I want to take a moment to sincerely apologize for my recent reaction on the field,” Robles wrote.
Moreover, the Mariners’ slugger has filed an appeal, meaning his 10-game suspension won’t take effect until the process is resolved.
However, if the suspension stays intact, the Mariners’ roster plan will take a good hit. According to Dipoto, they had a plan to activate Robles by the third week of August. Now that the plan has gone awry, it is forcing the team to plan alternatives.
So, if the Mariners choose to activate Robles before September 1, they’d have to designate a bench player for assignment. And that would leave them with just 12 position players until rosters expand. On the other hand, if the Mariners activate him after September 1, Robles wouldn’t be able to return from his suspension until September 12.
So, a tough decision to make for the Mariners. The fans could only hope that Robles’ appeal is accepted.
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