The Netherlands‘ Sem Robberse has been named to the American League Futures Game roster, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on Monday.
The 21-year-old Robberse, currently pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate, has climbed up the prospect rankings since his signing in 2019, with both Fangraphs and MLB Pipeline rating him a Top-10 prospect in the Toronto farm system. He will now have the opportunity to share the field with the top young talent from across the minor leagues at the Seattle Mariners’ T-Mobile Park as part of the events leading up to the 93rd MLB All-Star game.
Coming out of the pandemic in 2021, Robberse excelled at Single-A Dunedin, recording a 3.90 ERA and a .214 BBA in 57.2 innings, good enough for a mid-season promotion to High-A Vancouver, but he struggled in his first taste of higher competition in the second half of the season. The following year saw him establish himself with High-A Vancouver, however, turning in a 3.14 ERA in 17 starts to earn the promotion to Double-A Manchester.
The Dutch hurler has a 4.30 ERA in 92 Double-A innings across parts of two seasons, with MLB Pipeline projecting a 2024 arrival in Toronto, especially as added bulk — Robberse now weighs in at 200 pounds (90.7 kg) — could give Robberse’s fastball an extra gear.
Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen is similarly bullish on Robberse’s chances. Writing early in 2022, at a time when Robberse tipped the scales at just 160 pounds (72.6 kg), the Fangraphs analyst noted that the young Dutchman has “several starter traits” and that he “has feel for locating his fastball to both sides of the plate, his curve tunnels nicely with the four-seamer, he can backdoor the slider against lefties, and he’s even got a promising changeup.” An improved fastball could make Robberse’s other offerings more effective, paving the way for his call-up to the Majors.
The Futures Game is scheduled for Sunday, July 9, at 1:00 (CEST).