While the Washington Nationals season has been over for over two weeks, Victor Robles is getting some extra work in during the Dominican Winter League.
The MLB Playoffs are in full swing and hopefully, Washington Nationals fans are enjoying the spectacle. But while fans settle in to watch the drama, outfielder Victor Robles is getting his work in down in the Dominican Winter League.
The Dominican Winter League, which is often referred to as LIDOM, has a regular season that runs from October 13th to the December 17th, with the playoffs going on until January 26th, 2019. The league winners then go on to play in the heralded Caribbean Series at the start of February, playing against the winners of the leagues in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
Robles is currently playing for the Águilas Cibaeñas in the developmental league as he tries to get some additional playing time before the year is out. The Nats top prospect missed out on a huge chunk of his season when he hyperextended his left elbow in April, so is merely making up for lost time.
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He’s already off to an absolutely blazing start, going 7 for 9 in his first two games including a pair of RBIs and a stolen base. The competition may not be the highest standard, but it’s a nice relaxed way for him to get his ABs and finish off the season on a high.
Victor Robles is currently penciled in as the starting centerfielder for the Nationals next season, so while he needs to get his development in, he also needs to be wary of his health while playing in the LIDOM. The elbow injury earlier in the year is the latest in a growing list of injuries for the outfielder and one that may need to be monitored moving forward.
The outfielder is joined on the Cibaeñas by fellow prospect Joan Baez who allowed two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out two in Monday 8-6 loss to the Gigantes del Cibao. There are also other Nats prospects scattered about the LIDOM such as Taylor Gushue, Jimmy Cordero, and Raudy Read.
Rookie sensation Juan Soto even managed to get down to the game on Monday as he watched his teammate go 3 for 5, sharing pictures on his Instagram story. The two have quite some way to go to get to Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon levels of bromance, but the two Dominicans are well on their way to becoming best friends forever.
Victor Robles is going to be a huge part of the future of the Washington Nationals, with 2019 looking like his coming out party. If he can continue to hit just like he has early on in the LIDOM, Nats fans are in for a treat next season.