When you are a 6’5, 225 lb left-handed power hitter, and teams take a pass on you through 24 rounds of a draft, you might have a chip on your shoulder. When you hear people talk about you and they say, “He’s a great player, but he’s a little old to be playing in Double-A,” you become motivated to play your way to a higher level. Clint Robinson has had his doubters since being drafted in the 25th round (756 overall) in the 2007 MLB Rule 4 Draft. Every year, he has shown that he is capable of being in the big leagues, but his 2010 season is truly something special.
Dynasty Athlete Representation signed Robinson as a client in the offseason prior to his 2010 campaign, where he would start at Double-A for the first time in his life. The agency immediately found Robinson an equipment deal with XPROTEX, which has provided Robinson with everything he needs to excel offensively, and more. Focused on being a solid contributor in the Kansas City Royals organization, Robinson went to work at the beginning of the 2010 season, and every day since, he is writing a new page in for a storybook season tale.
Before we look at the numbers, let’s not forget that Clint Robinson is also a model citizen and an excellent teammate. The fact that he won the Mike Sweeney award (which recognizes a player best representing the Royals organization on and off the field) last season should not take anything away from the focus on Robinson as a ball masher. Instead, it should only increase his value as a push is made for Robinson to make the big league Royals roster sometime in the near future.
But what about those numbers? They have been enough to get Robinson selected to the Double-A Texas League All-Star Game as a starter (where he played the entire game), an invitation to the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby, and recently named as the Texas League’s Player of the Month of June.
In June, alone, Robinson had a .409 batting average, .461 on-base-percentage, .796 slugging percentage, and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 1.256. 19 of his 24 hits (in 93 at-bats) were for extra bases – 10 doubles, 1 triple, and 8 homeruns. He scored 24 runs and 22 RBI. People assume that a power hitter cannot run, but he has already amassed 2 more triples in the month of July.
Robinson is starting July the same way he finished June. On the year, Robinson is hovering right around a 1.000 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
Robinson was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, which is roughly 150 miles and about 2 1/2 hours away from Kansas City. It may not be long until he is playing professional baseball near his birthplace.
