Tom Robson's stint with his hometown professional baseball team could be over in a couple of weeks.
The 20-year-old pitcher from Ladner made his second start at Nat Bailey Stadium on Wednesday night and was in excellent form in the Vancouver Canadians 10-1 win over the Everett Aquasox. The Toronto Blue Jays prospect allowed just two hits and struck out four in five innings of work before he reached his maximum 80 pitch count. In four starts since being called up from rookie league ball, the Delta secondary graduate has a 2-0 record and paltry 0.71 earned runs average (ERA).
Robson is scheduled to pitch three more times until the conclusion of the Single A Short Season. He could be re-assigned to continue on in a fall instructional league or shutdown for the year. But everything is pointing to bigger challenges in his promising career. "They keep all that stuff pretty confidential," said Robson Wednesday from his East Ladner family home. "You do a whole lot more throwing in pro ball and I can definitely tell it's getting to the end of the season. I still feel good but I've been going since April.
"If they do shut me down, I will take some time off and maybe go to Mexico for a holiday then get back into the grind.
Robson's made his Nat Bailey debut on Aug. 3 in front of a capacity crowd of 5,500. He pitched six innings in an 8-2 win over Hillsboro. The biggest challenge, however, was coming up with enough tickets to accommodate all his family and friends. Many more also showed up at the park, including some of his former teachers. "I gave 45 tickets to my parents and I had another 25 just for my friends," smiled Robson. "But there must have been close to another 100 people from Ladner as well. (Laughing) There were people coming up to me afterwards that I don't even remember."
Being in a Vancouver Canadians' uniform had been on Robson's mind since the Blue Jays made him the number one pick from Canada in the Major League Baseball draft two years ago.
As an 18-year-old fresh out of high school, the journey to get to his hometown team was not as straight forward as one might think.
Robson began his career in Virginia and was enjoying a solid season until it was cut short due to soreness in his elbow. He was sent to Florida for rehabilitation then spent six weeks in a fall instructional league before another month long stint in the Dominican Republic.
He was invited to extended spring training in April and was 3-0 with Bluefield before being promoted to Vancouver.
"I'm definitely getting use to pro ball and understanding what it's
like," he continued. "Just because your Canadian doesn't mean your going to the Vancouver Canadians. I was thinking hopefully I can pitch well in Bluefield and at least get a chance to play in my hometown once in my career. That was my whole goal while I was there. To pitch front of family and friends in a stadium I grew up in was a pretty surreal experience."
One of the biggest adjustments for Robson is working with a limited pitch count. In the B.C. Premier Baseball League with the Langley Blaze or even with the national junior team, he would typically throw between 110-120 pitches per start. Instructional league saw him work no more than two innings and he was on a 60 pitch count in Bluefield. Now his workload is 80.
"You don't want to waste pitches and make sure all of them count," he said. "Even if I get ahead 0-2, I don't want to throw out of the zone. I rather throw a curve ball or something competitive that could buy me an extra inning."
Robson's arsenal includes a fastball, curveball and change-up. Since turning pro he has tinkered his grips on all three of them. His fastball has more velocity as well as movement and a sinking downward action to it. He has gone from a four to a two finger grip on his change up and he can throw a spike curveball. This off-season he wants to add a cutter or a slider.
He his savouring his days of living at home and catching up with his family and friends. Typically for home games, he heads to Nat Bailey around noon and even later, if he chooses, when he starts.
"I don't want to be here next year but this something I will definitely remember for the rest of my life. It's a special time."
Photo By Max Weder / Tom Robson has a 0.71 ERA in four starts since joining the Vancouver Canadians just over two weeks ago.;
