Tijuana Toros Name Former Padres’ Player Oscar Robles As Hitting Coach
Credit: Toros
This Thursday, the Tijuana Toros officially announced Oscar Robles as their new hitting coach to replace Matias Carrillo. The former Marlins and Brewers outfielder recently departed the border city side to become the new manager for Generales de Durango.
Robles retired from professional baseball just last year, but could not keep away from the diamond for too long.
The Tijuana native did not enjoy a very extensive or fruitful MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Robles posted a .262 batting average over two seasons with the Dodgers and went just 6-for-26 in his lone year with the Friars in 2007.
The former Friar also played in the Houston Astros’ organization from 1994-1998 before finally reaching MLB in 2005.
In Mexico, the infielder enjoyed a very respectable career and was one of the more consistent hitters over the past decade.
He was characterized by his patience at the plate, that he should be able to implement on his hometown team. Robles played with Guerreros de Oaxaca, Diablos Rojos del Mexico, and Toros de Tijuana in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (Mexican Baseball League), and with the Algodoneros de Guasave, Mayos de Navojoa, Aguilas de Mexicali, and Tomateros de Culiacan in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (Mexican Pacific League).
The Mexican infielder played the last three years of his professional career with his hometown Tijuana Toros. In his last year in professional baseball, Robles posted an impressive .292 batting average in 45 games with the border city team.
This will be an important year for the Toros as the team will try to defend its 2017 league title in the LMB. Robles is a very good addition to the coaching staff as he was considered a very smart and precise player and also knows how important it is to represent the team, being a native of Tijuana. The third baseman had just over 100 hits in MLB, but over 1,500 in Mexico, and it will be interesting to see the impact he has on the Toros this year.
The team is still undergoing a few changes as the season approaches with signings and trades, but has kept its core that helped lift the Mexican Baseball League title in 2017.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.