ATLANTA -- Victor Robles’ absence was felt during the Mariners’ series-opening loss to the Braves on Friday night, for both his glove in right field on a critical play that turned into a triple and his bat against tough lefty Chris Sale.
But the club is hopeful that he can provide some spark, after being reinstated to Seattle’s active roster ahead of Saturday’s game at Truist Park following a seven-game suspension. He started in right field and hit eighth in the Mariners' 10-2 win, going 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and a walk.
“It was very difficult and obviously frustrating to not be able to be there and do anything,” Robles said through an interpreter. “But like I said, controlling what I can control, and now getting into the position where I can contribute again.”
Robles spent the past week at the Mariners’ Spring Training facility in Arizona, where he took live at-bats against a handful of pitchers on site, including reliever Gregory Santos -- who began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday with a scoreless inning, finishing with a walk and a strikeout on 22 total pitches.
“He looked good,” Robles said in English.
Santos has been recovering from surgery that he underwent in late April to clean up cartilage in his right knee, shortly after he was optioned to Tacoma following a sluggish start to the season. It’s possible that he could be a late-season addition to a bullpen that’s been hit hard to a 4.68 ERA on this 2-6 road trip.
That said, expectations for Santos remain murky. At his best, he could be the high-leverage power arm that the club had thought it was acquiring just before Spring Training in 2024. He’s been limited to just 16 appearances in the nearly two full seasons since, with eight walks and zero strikeouts among the 36 batters he faced in April and a 5.14 ERA.
As for Robles, he went 5-for-13 over four games upon returning from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 23. The Mariners could badly use the version of the sparkplug that Robles was last season, when he was their most productive hitter after signing with the club in early June -- especially amid their recent struggles.
“There's a lot of competition, but I love competition,” Robles said. “I'm a big competitor, and so even though there are a lot of tough teams out there, I'm looking forward to going out and competing and doing what we can the next few months.”
Polanco at 1B?
Jorge Polanco has played first base just once over his 12-year career -- as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of a walk-off loss in San Francisco earlier this season on April 6, moments after Robles suffered his dislocated left shoulder when diving into the netting and making a remarkable catch. Polanco’s emergency spot lasted just one pitch, as Santos immediately gave up a game-ending RBI single.
Exactly five months later, Polanco picked up a first-base glove again during early work at Truist Park on Saturday and worked with Mariners infield coach Perry Hill. Polanco didn't need that glove, but he went 1-for-3 with two walks and one run scored as the designated hitter.
“Just a chance to broaden horizons a little bit for Polo,” manager Dan Wilson said, “and later in the game, whatever situation may come up, we're just trying to prepare ourselves for what may be possibilities down the stretch.”
It’s unlikely that Polanco will make starts at the position, but the club would like to have the option of using him there late in games based on how Wilson deploys his bench.
For example, third baseman Eugenio Suárez played there in each of Seattle’s previous two games under such circumstances. He, too, had never played the position until this year (one game with Arizona before this week).
In both situations, backup first baseman Luke Raley had already been pinch-hit for, and Josh Naylor had either already been pinch-hit for (Wednesday in Tampa) or was unavailable due to a sore left shoulder that he continues to nurse (Friday in Atlanta). Previously, Dylan Moore would’ve taken those reps, but he was designated for assignment when Robles was activated from the IL.
Naylor returned to the lineup on Saturday, but that Wilson avoided him altogether in a game that was close throughout is a sign that it’s a situation that the club will continue to monitor.