ROBBINS CONTRACT PURCHASED BY DIAMONDBACKS

LINCOLN, NE – The Lincoln Saltdogs and the American Association jointly announced today that the Arizona Diamondbacks purchased the contract of Joe Robbins.

Robbins is the 53^rd Saltdogs player sold to an MLB organization and the 30^th since 2011.  He is the fifth player picked up by an affiliated team 2017, following LHP Casey Crosby who had his contract purchased on October 11^th.  Robbins follows LHP Cesilio Pimentel as the second Saltdogs player to catch the eye of the Diamondbacks this year.  Pimentel was signed on August 11^th and finished the season with the D-Backs’ Pioneer League affiliate.

The Saltdogs signed Robbins to his first professional contract on July 4^th.  The 23-year-old made an immediate impact for the Saltdogs.  He hit .302 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs over 49 regular season games.  He used his speed to get 12 doubles, four triples and an inside-the-park home run in addition to eight stolen bases.

Robbins had an explosive series in the playoffs.  He hit .375 with three home runs, a double and five RBIs over a four game stretch against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The rookie’s best game came against the Sioux City Explorers on August 10^th.  He hit for the cycle and notched five hits to tie the franchise record for hits in a game.  He was the first Saltdogs player to hit for the cycle since Pichi Balet did it in 2006.

Robbins’ improved throughout the second half of the season.  He hit nine homers over his final 28 games after getting just the inside-the-park homer in his first 25 contests.  He finished the season on a six game hitting streak.  He hit just .250 in his first 12 games before bursting out to complete the regular season and postseason hitting .372.

Robbins also proved his value by being versatile.  He played six different positions for Bobby Brown’s team, spending most of his time at third base and center field.  He made just two errors in his 53 total games.

The Saltdogs discovered Robbins at the Indy Pro Showcase.

Before coming to the capital city, Robbins played 195 games over five seasons with the Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin Cajuns.  He hit .262 with 19 home runs and 103 RBIs over his career.

The Pineville, Louisiana native was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference player as a third baseman his senior season.  He hit .277 with six home runs and nine stolen bases in his 2017 season helping his team to the Sun Belt regular season conference championship.

2017 was the 17^th season of Saltdogs baseball in Lincoln.  For offseason information on the Saltdogs, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter/Instagram @saltdogsball.