Robinson can use baseball as an escape

MILWAUKEE — In late March, as his fellow fringe major leaguers were competing for opening day roster spots, Shane Robinson was without a team and without a plan.

On March 30, after opting out of a deal with Cleveland, he signed a minor league deal with the Angels. On March 31, he started in left f ield at Dodger Stadium, his f irst time hitting in 13 days. In the f inal four days before the season, he gathered nine at- bats after batting only 21 times in three weeks of Cactus League play with the Indians.

“It was kind of a whirlwind at the end of camp there,” Robinson said.

He had not hit for so long because he was in Boston, tending to his 1year- old daughter, Harper, undergoing an emergency surgery, the 40th operation of her young life. She was born with esophageal atresia; her esophagus was not connected to her stomach.

Three times last season as a backup outfielder for Minnesota, Robinson had to leave the team to be with his family. He said his wife, Jessica, has dealt with the “worst of it.”

“It’s been difficult at times, but we’ve gotten through it,” he said. “As a guy, you try to take as much as you can on your shoulders. It did wear on me a little bit, and my family, and things like that. It’s tough with them being in Boston the entire season, and trying to stay focused on my job.”

He has come to look at his job as an escape. In his current role on the Angels, there is not much for him to do. The team intends for him to start in left field against left- handers while Craig Gentry is on the disabled list. He has not played since he was called up Sunday and scored three runs in a win that afternoon in Texas.

But there is something else to think about, at least. “It kind of takes my mind off it,” he said.

Now, Robinson said, the hope is 19- month- old Harper is all right — done with surgeries. She, her 4- yearold sister, Tinley, and Jessica are in Milwaukee this week and attending the Angels’ games at Miller Park.

“I haven’t seen them in a while,” Robinson said. “Both my daughters just gravitate toward me right away. It’s like I’m doing something right with that.”

Short hops

Daniel Nava played his second game on a rehab assignment for Class- A Inland Empire on Tuesday night, and his first game in left field. He served as the designated hitter Monday and walked and f lied out. … Left- hander C. J. Wilson could throw off a mound next week for the f irst time in two months. … Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said he was relieved by the diagnosis of biceps tendinitis for left- hander Tyler Skaggs, who is trying to return from August 2014 Tommy John surgery. He will again be examined next week.