Robles activated onto Triple-A Syracuse's roster (Nats up 9-1)

MIAMI - They may not have room for him in their crowded outfield right now, but Victor Robles is healthy again and available should the Nationals require his services before season's end.

Robles, who entered the year as the organization's top prospect only to hyperextend his left elbow making a diving catch at Triple-A Syracuse in early April, has completed his rehab and is back on the Chiefs' active roster.

The 21-year-old outfielder probably would have been playing in Washington after injuries to veterans Adam Eaton, Howie Kendrick and Brian Goodwin early in the season, but instead watched as 19-year-old Juan Soto leapfrogged him and became a rookie sensation in left field.

Though Soto was regarded by many in the organization as the better hitting prospect, Robles continues to be regarded as the better all-around player, most notably in the field and on the bases. Now the Nationals just have to figure out how he fits into their plans, not only in 2019 but beyond.

Robles Dugout Congrats Sidebar.jpgThe club initially feared Robles might have fractured his elbow on the diving play in shallow center field, but X-rays were negative and he was diagnosed with only the hyperextension. He nonetheless missed three months before he was cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment.

Robles wound up playing 12 games for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals and short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays, going 9-for-34 with seven runs scored.

He'll now resume playing as he normally would have for Syracuse, with the Nats keeping an eye on him for a potential promotion either in August or most certainly in September once rosters expand.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rendon's wife, Amanda, gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday. Emma Kate Rendon is the couple's first child.

League rules require Rendon to return to the active roster no later than Sunday, but with the Nats off Monday and then opening a homestand Tuesday, it's possible the club will simply go with a 24-man roster for Sunday's finale against the Marlins and give Rendon some extra time to be with his family.

Update: Max Scherzer has "The Look" tonight. He's doing it all. He retired the Marlins' first 10 batters before hitting Brian Anderson in the knee with an errant pitch in the fourth but rebounding to end the inning without having allowed a hit. He does have a hit of his own at the plate, though, and later scored on a wild pitch. That's one of four runs the Nats have plated so far, with Matt Adams adding an RBI single, Juan Soto crushing his 13th homer of the season and Bryce Harper chiming in with a sacrifice fly. So the Nationals lead 4-0 after four, with their ace locked in.

Update II: There won't be any history tonight for Scherzer. At least, not any no-hitter history. Martin Prado managed to send a groundball single up the middle with one out in the fifth for the Marlins' first hit of the evening. That's still the only hit they have through six innings. Scherzer has struck out nine but has kept his pitch count to 75. The Nats still lead 4-0.

Update III: A lot happened in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eighth. The Marlins finally got on the board, albeit with an unearned run as a result of back-to-back misplays at third base by Mark Reynolds. No matter, though, because the Nats responded with five consecutive two-out hits with runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth, scoring five big tack-on runs. They now lead 9-1.




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