The Netherlands’ Sem Robberse made a brief appearance in last weekend’s 2023 MLB Futures Game in Seattle, facing three batters to become the first Netherlands-born player to appear in the showcase that brings together 50 of the top prospects across the minor leagues.
Robberse, a highly touted, Toronto Blue Jays farmhand currently pitching at Double-A New Hampshire, was on the mound to start the sixth inning and faced three batters, surrendering singles to Yanquiel Fernandez, a Top-5 prospect in the Colorado Rockies system, and the Washington Nationals’ #2 prospect Brady House before striking out Chicago Cubs Top-30 prospect BJ Murray Jr. on a changeup.
Fernandez and House both scored later in the inning, giving Robberse, whose fastball topped out at 95 miles per hour, an official line of 0.1 IP, the one strikeout, and two earned runs on the day.
Through 15 starts and 73 innings at Double-A New Hampshire, Robberse has posted a 4.19 ERA while limiting batters to a .204 BAA.
The National League defeated the American League, 5-0 (box), to win the 24th edition of the Futures Game, the third to use the current NL vs. AL format.