Javier Robles Hits 200th HR

In a story reminiscent of Crash Davis from the movie Bull Durham, this week, Campeche Pirates’ infielder Javier Robles became the second player in Mexican League history (after Martin Sotelo) to hit 200 home runs. A while back I wrote on watching Javier hit a Grand Slam home run when he played for Quintana Roo last year and wondered why he never had a taste at the bigs, or at least the conventional minor league system.  The guy routinely has an OPS year after year in the .900-plus range in a man’s league and plays serviceable defence from what I can tell.  What I mean by a “man’s league” is that the Mexican League is a league full of grown men who are skilled, experienced players. It is not a league full of young players learning their craft. 

Robles was selected in the 57th round by the Kansas City Royals in the 1989 amateur entry draft. He then proceeded to have 32 AB with their rookie league affiliate, Burlington (of the Appalachian League), before falling mysteriously off the earth.  Unfortunately that is all the history I can find on this modern day Crash Davis, but I have contacted various Mexican League sources and will provide an update if I can gather any new information.