The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas now can boast of two of the top three prospects in the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system.

Kristian Robinson has now risen to the rank of No.3 within the organisation after he opened the season on a torrid pace for the Hillsboro Tops in Single A baseball. Jazz Chisholm remains the No.1 prospect in the team’s system.

Robinson also vaulted to No.93 among the MLB’s top 100 prospects.

Last week, the 18-year-old outfielder hit four home runs in a five-game span. Through 38 games this season, Robinson is hitting .341 with a 1.006 OPS, .406 OBP, 34 RBI, nine home runs, 10 doubles, eight stolen bases and scored 22 runs.

John Canzano, of the The Oregonian said: “Robinson, 6-foot-3, has the feel of a big-league player. He runs and fields well, and has a good arm from the outfield. He hits for power and average. A true five-tool player, who is the most gifted hitter that has ever suited up for the Hops.”

Prior to the season, Bleacher Report identified Robinson as one of the Diamondbacks’ “most underhyped prospects” for the upcoming 2019 campaign.

“Robinson generates massive raw power to all fields and showed in his first season that he could get to during games. That he already has a pretty good understanding of the strike zone and some plate discipline is impressive given his age and lack of experience. Those qualities, along with his explosive swing, give Robinson a chance to be at least an average hitter. He has the speed, range and instincts for centre field, though, with so much physical projection remaining, there is a chance he’ll outgrow the spot, in which he’ll fit nicely at either outfield corner,” according to his MLB Prospect Analysis.

“A case can be made that Robinson has the highest ceiling of any player in Arizona’s system as a future slugger who could also stick in centre field.”

He began his pro career last season in the Arizona Rookie League. In 40 AZL games, he hit .272 with a .754 OPS, .341 OBP, 31 RBI, four home runs, 11 doubles, seven stolen bases and scored 35 runs.

Following the conclusion of training camp last March, Robinson was listed as the No.12 prospect in the Diamondbacks organisation, and was invited to extended spring training prior to the regular season. He helped the AZL D-backs to clinch its first-ever playoff berth in the Arizona Rookie League.

Following that production, he was then assigned to the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League. With the Ospreys, it took just seven games for Robinson to record the first multi home-run game at the pro level.

In 17 games with the Ospreys he hit .300 with an .886 OPS, .419 OBP, 10 RBI, three home runs, five stolen bases and scored 13 runs.

Robinson was the Diamondbacks’ most lucrative international signing for the 2017 class.

Out of Maximum Development Academy, he reached an agreement near $2.55 million. He also played with the Midland Redskins and Florida Stealth during his recruitment process.