SEATTLE – Sem Robberse and Yosver Zulueta are the fruits of some extra international bonus pool space the Toronto Blue Jays acquired in 2019 trades shipping out Kendrys Morales and Dwight Smith Jr., so it’s fitting the right-handers shared an inning of work at the Futures Game.
Signed about month apart four years ago, their paths in the club’s farm system quickly diverged; Robberse, 21, embarking on a slow and steady build that’s carried him to double-A New Hampshire this year, Zulueta, 25, overcoming Tommy John surgery and a subsequent knee injury to blaze his way up to triple-A Buffalo.
On Saturday, amid their continued push to the majors, they reunited at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park for Major League Baseball’s annual prospect showcase, Robberse allowing two groundball singles before striking out his final hitter, Zulueta following him with a hit batter, a three-run double and two strikeouts looking, each call surviving an ABS (Automated Balls and Strikes) Challenge.
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Results aside, lining up alongside Robberse in the American League’s 5-0 loss to the National League “is something beautiful,” Zulueta said before the game through interpreter Danny Sanchez. “It’s one of those experiences that we’re fortunate enough to have through the game of baseball and hopefully we’re able to continue on to the big-leagues, too, together.”
Added Robberse: “Starting at the same spot, at the same time, in a sense, and then being able to do this together is pretty cool.”
Of vital importance to the Blue Jays is where their paths lead from here.
Zulueta, appearing in the Futures Game for a second straight year, should be first to reach the majors, especially after the organization moved him out of the Bisons rotation into a shorter, mid-to-high leverage relief role. Given the Cuban’s age and time lost to injuries, getting him a sufficient base of work to haul starter innings was unlikely, and his closer-stuff profile makes him viable as a late-inning bullpen arm more than a bulk-inning candidate.
He’s struck out 47 batters and allowed just one home run in 41 innings over 26 games, seven of them starts, at Buffalo but carried a 4.61 ERA that is a by-product of ongoing command issues leading to an unsightly 7.2 walks-per-nine rate.
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Not surprisingly, Zulueta identifies improved “command” and “getting ahead of hitters, getting that first strike” as his top developmental priorities. “Once I get that mastered,” he added, “I’m going to be ready.”
To that end, he believes improved mechanics will get him there, saying he needs to “to be more consistent” with his delivery. But the transition to a shorter relief stints is working for him, Zulueta saying, “I feel comfortable, I like that role, it’s a role that I feel good in.”
“I like the fact that when I’m pitching, it’s usually in pressure situations late in the game,” he continued. “I feel more adrenaline and I like that aspect to it.”
Robberse, meanwhile, remains methodical and unwavering in his pursuit of every gain he can find on the mound. Through 15 starts with the Fisher Cats, he’s posted a 4.19 ERA across 73 innings with 69 strikeouts, while making gains in his velocity, getting up to 96 m.p.h. with his fastball.
He complements the heater with a slider, a cutter and a changeup and “the way I’ve been staying in the strike zone,” is what he most likes about his season thus far.
“I’ve been able to throw a lot of strikes and not shy away from that,” he continued. “I’ve given up some home runs (12), but I like to still think that I can attack and get the guys out with my stuff, even in the strike zone. So I’m happy that I’ve been able to have that mindset over the course of a half-season so far.”
Robberse’s velocity dipped a tick last year, something he attributed to a decline in weight which he addressed this off-season by upping his caloric intake.
Believed to be the first Netherlands-born player to play in the Futures Game, everything he does on the mound is deliberate and well-thought out, refusing to leave anything to chance.
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“I want to make sure that I know how I prepare my body, how my pitches work, what pitches I have,” Robberse said. “I want to pitch and play and compete with my strengths and knowing what I can do. If I can add stuff to that list of my skills, then that becomes even harder for the opponent to get something done.”
At times he’ll make adjustments from outing-to-outing, but he tends to think of changes more in terms of 4-to-6 week progressions, in order to build the muscle memory necessary to make something natural.
From a delivery standpoint, “that’s kind of where I’ve been at right now, trying to find a way to reach my back leg the best and keep my velo consistent throughout the game,” he explained. “And alongside that, being more aware that I get to my spot and execute my pitches because that’s where I’ve been hurt. Whenever I leave something middle, damage gets done and I need to eliminate that. So I’ve been able to focus on executing my pitches.”
Robberse, who topped out at 95.1 m.p.h., was hit and miss on that front in the Futures Game, giving up singles to Yanquiel Fernandez and Brady House before recovering to get B.J. Murray Jr. swinging on a pretty changeup.
Zulueta, getting up to 97.9 m.p.h., took over and hit Dalton Rushing with a backfoot slider before Nasim Nunez hooked his double down the left-field line. Then Justin Crawford and Victor Scott II both unsuccessfully challenged fastballs that caught a sliver of strike zone.
While not the way either would have drawn it up, the opportunity is a memorable stop on what they hope is their eventual way to the big-leagues.
“Obviously, there are a lot of eyes on you, especially in the baseball world,” said Zulueta. “So to be here and share this with my teammates and be a part of this experience is really great.”
Said Robberse: “The fact that the dream has become a goal and it’s becoming closer and closer means I’ve been doing the right things. If I just keep going like that and find my weaknesses and make them stronger, I think we’re in a good spot.”
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