Outfielder Kristian Robinson, whom the Diamondbacks designated for assignment over the weekend, went unclaimed on waivers, tweets Jesse Friedman of PHNX Sports. The team has apparently assigned Robinson back to its Rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League, as he’s already suited up for a game there since his DFA.
Once a high-profile amateur signing out of the Bahamas who was considered to be among the sport’s top 100 prospects, Robinson’s career has been slowed by legal issues (as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco outlined earlier this year when Robinson was reinstated from the restricted list). A then-19-year-old Robinson pled guilty to felony assault charges stemming from an altercation in April of 2020 but eventually agreed to a plea deal that would reduce the charge to a misdemeanor, contingent on him completing an 18-month probation window. Robinson was unable to renew his work visa (and thus unable to play in the D-backs system) during that probationary period, which ended this spring.
Since returning to the Diamondbacks after a three-year absence from playing in minor leagues, the now-22-year-old Robinson has appeared in 45 games between Rookie ball, Class-A and High-A. In 193 plate appearances, he’s slashed .276/.383/.460 with seven homers, three doubles, three triples, 19 steals (in 22 tries) and an 11.4% walk rate. That impressive performance isn’t without some statistical red flags, however. Robinson has punched out in an alarming 31.1% of his plate appearances, and the bulk of those stats have come against younger competition in A-ball and Rookie ball. He’s yet to really be tested against more advanced pitching, which makes the already sky-high strikeout rate all the more concerning.
Now that he’s gone unclaimed on waivers, he’ll remain in the D-backs’ system but no longer occupy a spot on the 40-man roster.
Couldn’t happen to a better guy. What a joke assault someone go get a real job
Surprised he passed through waivers. He seemed almost guaranteed to get claimed. Maybe too much off field baggage for a team to put a claim in?
@mlb1225 probably because no team wanted to put him on their 40 man when there is a good chance he will probably never make the majors
Maybe if he’d spell his first name correctly he’s better evince proper values.
he’s an Old Testament Kristian
How do you spell a first name correctly? My name’s Matthew, but there is Mathew, Mathieu, Matthias, Mateo. My son’s name is Nikolas. I’m assuming I should have spelled that right…..Nicholas….or is it Nicolas or maybe Nickolas. I know how to spell Donkey though.
Most asses know how to spell their alternate namesakes.
My oldest son’s name is Christian, by chance.
Attaboy. You are indeed a father that knows best.
Andruw Jones hates you
And you, @DCartrow, of course, may cast the first stone.
Another Billy Eppler miss, per usual. Talent doesn’t grow on trees. Surprise Cashman didn’t pick him up. Yankee fans forgive this type of stuff like it never happened
Big sigh of relief for Dbacks fans who are also fans of Kristian, and thought the Dbacks had lost him by this procedural move. One of the dilemmas caused by Robinson’s extended absence was that the Dbacks were forced to place him on the 40-man roster or lose him in the 5 year draft back in July. Fortunately, the Dbacks gamble paid off and they were able to clear that 40-man roster spot. Hazen referenced “high risk roster moves” recently, and this is what he meant. He was not referring to dumping Carson Kelly nor demoting Ryne Nelson and promoting Slade Cecconi, nor demoting Jake McCarthy and promoting Buddy Kennedy, etc., He was referring to this Kristian Robinson procedural move. Like many Robinson fans, Hazen and the organization have not given up on Kristian’s potential, just recognized it will take longer to develop than the 40-man roster spot indicated.
Everybody does it… Osuna to the Astros is one the more profiled names to be traded after legal issues. Ozuna too.
Ton of strikeouts, very occasional power in the low-level minors. If he ever makes it to the bigs, he’ll be a fifth outfielder at best.
Casey
Yes, tons of strikeouts since Kristian was reinstated, but that wasn’t unexpected. He had a high strikeout profile even as a Top 100 (actually #39, so Top 50!) prospect, and the 3 year hiatus added rust to that profile. The question is, will Robinson be able to significantly lower that strikeout percentage over the next two years.
What the article alluded too as Robinson’s “impressive performance” is ignored by the strikeout issue critics. His speed (steals) is elite. His power is above average. His hit tool (batting average) has been surprisingly exceptional. And his OF defense, partly because of his speed, has shown a series of highlight reel, spectacular catches!
So, power bats, with speed, defensive excellence and high batting average, even with high strikeout totals still adds up to superstar potential. Dbacks now have the time to see if that potential develops into reality. Many of us strongly believe it will!
Guess some people have never heard of Elly De La Cruz…
I like the Elly De La Cruz comp!
Big time difference. Elly is already in the big leagues and only 21 years old. Robinson has no where close to all the elite tools Elly has.
Why did he go unclaimed?
White Sox picked every other former top 100… why not him?
Just noticed that a couple posters hung the de la Cruz comp on Robinson. That’s actually accurate…in a bad way. De la Cruz’ OPS is .762 and sinking like a stone, not to mention the 34% strikeout rate. The league found out quick that he would swing at anything and usually miss.
Robinson looks like the bad version of de la Cruz, though the current version is not that hot. Ton of strikeouts and occasional power at best against younger competition in the low minors. I’m not sure he’ll even make it to AAA. But if he somehow does get to the bigs, his profile yells fifth outfielder.
Casey,
That’s the fun thing for us as fans to predict how prospects will turn out. We can salivate over our team’s prospects, and rip every other team’s prospects because we know that it’ll be 3-5 years before we know who was right and wrong, and by that time everyone else will have forgotten what we wrote!
I don’t know all the details but reading this and the linked article… I feel like he deserves another chance. That he was originally charged with a felony and openly said he was struggling with mental health issues and worked to get it stepped down to a misdemeanor shows that the court of law even believed he was worthy of a second chance. He was young and thrown into the spotlight of a “potential superstar” probably coming from very humble beginnings. I wish him the best and I think being able to stick with the organization that has faith but can’t keep the 40 man spot open for logistical reasons is probably a good thing.
Meh…