by Caitlen Sullivan
Vancouver Sun Sports Reporter
February 15, 1999
Player Spotlight: Robbie Sargent
Will “Silent Bob” Make a Lot of Noise?
Robbie Sargent is just 22 years old as he starts his first full season with the Mounties. Technically he’s not a rookie since he pitched 122 innings with the club last year after his mid-season call-up. But certainly this will be his first full major league season, and a lot rides on how well he does.
A native of Parma, Ohio, this kid is a manager’s dream. Just read the personality section of the scouting report: “Sargent is considered a team leader. He’s really bright and works as hard as anyone. And he gets along with everybody.” Huh? Is he really a professional athlete? And that didn’t even mention that he’s truly loyal and wants to win as much as anybody.
At 6’3” and 190 pounds, he looks like a pitcher. And can he pitch! He throws his sinking fastball in the upper nineties and has a wicked curveball, and they say those pitches will get even better. But his best pitch may be a circle change that makes batters walk away muttering. It would be hard to imagine him improving on that particular part of his repertoire. He is also working on a standard changeup, but he will use it sparingly. The sinking action of his pitches results in almost 75% ground balls, so the infield can expect a workout during games. He has great endurance and has no problem going deep into ball games that he starts. Furthermore, the right hander is just as effective as left handed batters as he is against righties.
So does he have any weaknesses? Well, yeah. He isn’t great at holding runners, he’s not a defensive whiz around the mound, and his control still needs work (although scouts predict it will get better and better).
He broke into professional ball in 1996 after a brilliant college season which saw him go 10-0 with an ERA of 0.35 and a WHIP of 0.61. He struck out 183 in 102 innings and walked only 12. Just for good measure, he hit .393. He jumped into the draft after that year and the Mounties grabbed him late in the first round. His first year at class-A Prince George was somewhat disappointing, going 8-15 but he posted a fine ERA of 3.42. He spent a second year at Prince George and improved dramatically: 13-8, 2.28.
Then came last season. He started the year at Nanaimo in AA and was brilliant in 8 games, winning 5 of them with a 1.41 ERA. He was quickly promoted to New Westminster where he continued to impress everybody, winning 5 of 7 decisions with a whip of 1.06. He was called up mid-season and continued to pitch very well (5-5, 3.32). So he made the jump from A ball to the majors all in one season. And moving back into the batter's box in the MBBA after not swinging a bat in the minors, he hit a respectable .243 including a home run in his nine hits. So the kid even helps himself at the bat.
We’re predicting great things for Robbie and we just hope it all starts this season.
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