Seattle Mariners Outfielder Victor Robles Has Been The Best MLB Player In September

The Seattle Mariners are usually the team that players leave, and somehow get better with their new teams. This is one of those rare moments that the Mariners picked up a player that no one wanted, and his career has changed forever. 

It was just a couple months ago, on June 1st of THIS YEAR in 2024, the Washington Nationals requested a release waiver of 27 year-old Victor Robles. At the time, he was batting just .120 with three runs and four stolen bases in 14 games this season with the Nationals. 

Via ESPN: "He hit .299 in 36 games last season and is a career .236 hitter with 31 home runs, 156 RBIs and 70 steals in parts of eight seasons with Washington. He finished sixth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2019.

Robles will become a free agent once he passes through release waivers, which is expected to happen since a claiming team would have to assume the remainder of his $2.65 million salary. He already was set to become a free agent once the 2024 season ended."

The crazy part of this all, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, Robles was MLB.com's No. 6 overall prospect and the only player within the Top 100 with three tools that grade at least a 70. 

In just a matter of two months, everything has changed for Robles. The Mariners are so happy with Robles that they signed him to a two-year, $9.75-million contract extension earlier this month. He can also make an additional $2 million in performance bonuses and escalators and the Mariners hold a team option of $9 million for 2027.

From being waived in June, to signing a two-year extension with the Seattle Mariners. The turnaround has been unreal. 

After signing his contract, some of his play was the not going as well, but then everything changed. Victor Robles got even better than he has ever been in September. 

Víctor Robles in September:

AVG: .463 (#1 MLB)
OBP: .549 (#1)
wRC+: 238 (#3)
SB: 8 (T-#1)

— Gary Hill Jr. (@GaryHillJr) September 16, 2024

He might be the best player in the MLB during the month of September with these numbers. The Mariners needed it badly, as they are now only 2.5 games back of the final Wild Card playoff spot. Robles has been a huge piece to that.