D-Backs add Robinson, two more to their 40-man roster
The Diamondbacks added three prospects to their 40-man roster on Friday, most notably outfielder Kristian Robinson, who remains in a sort of baseball limbo as he sorts through legal issues that kept him off the field all this year.
Robinson, who turns 21 next month, pleaded guilty in August to a felony assault charge following a confrontation with a law enforcement officer in April 2020. He was sentenced to 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service.
Robinson already has completed his community service hours, according to General Manager Mike Hazen, who said he did not know enough about the legal particulars to comment on whether he was more or less confident that Robinson would be able to return to action in the near future.
“I am very happy that he went out and did his community service with the urgency that he went out and did it,” Hazen said. “All indications that I got from everybody was that he did it well and was very diligent, as he should have. We are hoping for the best moving forward.”
The situation with Robinson, a native of the Bahamas, is complicated by potential visa issues. As of last month, he was awaiting a ruling on his appeal to have his current visa extended. In the meantime, he has been able to remain in the country. However, the concern is that the presence of a felony on his record might be viewed as grounds to deny a visa application.
Robinson’s agent could not immediately be reached for an update on the situation.
Robinson last played during the 2019 minor league season, reaching the Low-A level. An outfielder with power and speed, he has long been viewed as a highly talented player, one who ranked among most publications’ Top 100 prospects as recently as last offseason. He commanded a $2.5 million bonus when the club signed him more than four years ago.
Hazen said the Diamondbacks removed Robinson from the restricted list, added him to the 40-man roster and immediately re-added him to the restricted list, regaining the 40-man spot.
“From a decision-making standpoint, it was tricky.” Hazen said. “I don’t think we ever wavered in not selecting him. He’s one of our best prospects. The legal situation is complicated. His development path over the last couple of years, he has been doing his work in bits and pieces. But we felt like, at this time, from a roster standpoint, that we had to protect him. We felt like he would have been exposed and probably selected (in the Rule 5 draft) had we left him out there.”
Other than instructional league, Robinson missed all of the 2020 season, the year the pandemic forced the minor league season to be canceled. He worked out sporadically in informal settings at team facilities this year but did not play in real games.
“I think if I would describe the entirety of his year, it wasn’t a great development year from that standpoint,” Hazen said. “He has missed a lot over the past couple of years.”
The Diamondbacks also added versatile position player Cooper Hummel, whom they acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in July as part of the return in the Eduardo Escobar trade, and right-hander Ryan Weiss, a pitcher who reached Triple-A this past season while exhibiting significantly improved stuff.
To clear room, the club outrighted pitchers Kevin Ginkel, Riley Smith and Miguel Aguilar to Triple-A Reno, meaning all three passed through waivers unclaimed.
Ginkel’s removal from the roster comes after a pair of rough seasons at the major league level. He burst onto the scene late in the 2019 season, quickly becoming one of the club’s better relievers, but has been unable to rediscover that form.