Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles was ejected from a Triple-A game on Sunday after throwing his bat at a pitcher who nearly hit him with a fastball.
Robles, sidelined since April with a dislocated left shoulder, was on a rehab assignment with Tacoma when he fouled off a high and inside pitch from Las Vegas starter Joey Estes in the third inning.
Robles, who already had been hit by pitches three times during the series at Las Vegas, flung his bat toward Estes in frustration and began walking toward the mound. He was immediately ejected by the home plate umpire and had to be restrained by teammates.
Robles can expect to receive a suspension for the incident, which concluded with him throwing a box of snacks toward the field before going to the clubhouse.
He later apologized on Instagram for letting his emotions get the best of him.
“Coming off a long rehab and being away from the game for most of the season has been physically and mentally challenging,” Robles said. “Adding to that, the recent passing of my mother has been incredibly hard, and I’ve been doing my best to hold it together. That’s not an excuse, but some context I feel you deserve to understand where I’m coming from.”
He added, “Getting hit 5 times in 15 at-bats added to that pressure, and I reacted in a way I’m not proud of. This game means the world to me, and so do the people who play it. I respect every one of you, not just as a player, but as a teammate and competitor.”
Robles, 28, has been on the injured list since crashing into an outfield wall on April 6 at San Francisco.
Playing right field in the series finale against Giants, Robles made a jumping catch of a long ball hit by Patrick Bailey that had barely turned foul in the bottom of the ninth. His glove hand still outstretched, Robles’ elbow appeared to make contact with a padded wall and he also got tangled in netting. He was carted off the field.
Robles joined the Mariners after being waived by the Washington Nationals during the 2024 season. He served as Seattle’s leadoff batter in its first 10 games of this season and was hitting .273 with three doubles, three RBIs, three runs and three stolen bases.
Robles has batted .248 in his 617-game career with Washington (2017-24) and Seattle, recording 35 homers, 185 RBIs, 257 runs and 103 stolen bases. He has accrued 79 hit-by-pitches over 2,142 MLB plate appearances — or one every 27.1 plate appearances. That’s more than three times the MLB rate this season, which is one HBP every 94.7 plate appearances.
–Field Level Media
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