Fangraphs released its thoughts on the Toronto Blue Jays farm system earlier this week and included 20-year-old Dutch right-hander Sem Robberse in the organization’s Top 10.
Robberse, who signed with the Blue Jays in June 2019 out of Zeist, Netherlands, was ranked by Fangraphs’ prospect analysts Brendan Gawlowski and Eric Longenhagen as the ninth-best prospect in the Toronto farm system.
Longenhagen had Robberse in the Top-30 (#28) in his 2021 ranking of Blue Jay farmhands.
The Dutch righty had an impressive 2021 season, with the majority of it spent at Low-A Dunedin, where he amassed a 3.90 ERA and 3.63 FIP in 57.2 innings pitched.
He made an additional seven starts at High-A Vancouver, where he enjoyed considerably less success (5.20 FIP, 1.84 WHIP), but the Fangraphs analysts argue that the young Dutchman has “several starter traits” and note 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.”
Command is the Dutch hurler’s major weakness, with his curveball and slider both seen as strengths. It is hoped that the lanky Robberse, who tips the scales at just 160 pounds (72.6 kg), will develop velocity on his fastball as he adds weight.
It is expected that Robberse will start the 2022 season in Vancouver.