New York Mets right-hander Hansel Robles registered a 9.26 ERA over 11.2 innings this spring, but even still, was taken aback when he was informed he wouldn’t be making the Opening Day roster.
Robles, 27, was considered an almost lock to break camp with the Mets in 2018, but will instead head to the minors where he was told to “work on the small things.”
“He’s got good stuff,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “But you have got to be able to do the small things that separates yourself from everyone else and if you can’t do that, stuff doesn’t mean anything if you are not taking care of your business: You are throwing it right, making sure you are consistent in your delivery. We just didn’t see that.”
The three-year veteran went 7-5 with a 4.92 ERA in 46 appearance for the Mets last season.
Callaway said it was difficult telling Robles he wouldn’t be making the team out of camp.
“It was kind of a shock to him, but he knows he needs to work on some of the small things. I don’t know how much he valued it in the past and we just told him, ‘You can go down there and strike out 25 people in a row, but if those things we need you to work on at the big league level aren’t taken care of, then we are probably going to pass you by.’”
With Robles now out of the equation, it bodes well for Jacob Rhame to make the squad out of camp if the Mets decide to carry eight relievers which it looks likely they will do.
