Part Two with Trayvon Robinson: "Everything was Moving Way Too Fast"
- jgperro
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Trayvon Robinson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. He climbed up their prospect ladder for several seasons. By 2011, Robinson seemed poised to leap on to the Dodgers' Major League roster. Instead, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners before making his MLB Debut a week later.
"Yeah, I couldn't even tell you how much I was just crying on the inside. I was stunned."
After spending parts of seven minor league seasons with the Dodgers, Trayvon Robinson was a very well known commodity with the decision-makers, player development personnel, and the big league staff. However, it became obvious, quickly, to Trayvon that the Mariners just picked him up to have another outfielder on their depth chart.
"I just felt like I was walking on eggshells, man," says Robinson. "I just had this whole feeling to where I just wasn't comfortable, If it would have been different with the Dodgers, you know why? They knew me. They knew exactly who I was. They know where I came from. They know everything."
"I eventually stopped playing up there [the Major League level] at the age of 24, so I wasn't getting everyday at-bats. I just felt like I became another guy very quickly," remember Robinson.
Trayvon began the 2012 season in AAA Tacoma with the Mariners. "I batted .530 with like 30 at bats or 20-something at bats in spring training. The only thing I got was 'You need to go play every day." Really? I'm doing everything and I was in a big trade with you. Like just tell me what I need to work on.'
During that AAA stint, Robinson began to fell his favor with the organization was growing. Despite still not playing everyday. minor tweaks to his swing and approach led to harder contact, a reduced strikeout rate, and an increase in walks.
Even so, Robinson explains, "Bam, I get freaking traded. So they wrote me off at like 24 years old." The Seattle Mariners traded him to the Baltimore Orioles.
Trayvon Robinson spent the 2013-15 seasons between the Orioles, Dodgers, Tigers, and Diamondbacks organizations. In 2016, he landed in the Atlantic League, where he play until the 2019 when he was picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"I ended up flying down there to Bradenton [Pirates' spring training home]. I walked up to [Rick] Eckstein, Pirates' hitting coach at the time, and I was like, 'I want play.' Then he asked, 'Where have you been?'"
Robinson explained that he'd been playing in the Atlantic League. He and Eckstein went over Robinson's stats from the last few seasons. The two would spend sometime in the batting cages together and Robinson would soon be sent an invite to spring training.
"I was expecting to get released. It's a numbers game dude, I just want an opportunity to get spring training," said Robinson. "I just wanted an opportunity."
Trayvon got more than a spring training opportunity, he got sent to AAA Indianapolis. Despite battling through a divorce and losing his house and savings, he was named to the 2019 AAA All-Star Game.
In this conversation, Trayvon Robinson shares his journey from growing up in Compton to making his Major League Baseball debut. He discusses the emotional rollercoaster of being traded, the challenges he faced in the big leagues, and the lessons he learned along the way. Now a hitting coach, Trayvon reflects on the importance of mentorship and the impact of his experiences on his current role in baseball.
This episode is available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you find your podcasts.
Subscribe to Trayvon Robinson and Jay Jackson's podcast, The Brushback Podcast
Catch Up with JP's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catchupwithjp/
Purchase Jay Jackson's book Nine Innings to Living Your Best Life here: https://amzn.to/4jLeXBX
Purchase Jim Rushford's book, The Pizza Guy Delivers here: https://amzn.to/43fW31a
Purchase Jim Campanis Jr.'s book, Born into Baseball here: https://amzn.to/3FuLWfJ
Comments