Visalia native and former Fresno State Bulldog (and WAC MVP) Richie Robnett has a number of memories he can be proud of when looking back on his brief career.
The first-round draft pick by the Oakland A's in 2004 (26th pick) now plays for the Sacramento River Cats and is in Fresno playing against the Grizzlies this weekend. He has one more game in town, Sunday at 6:05 p.m.
Robnett, who is definitely one of the cooler players I've interviewed while in Fresno, had one "lucky" memory he shared with me before Saturday night's game.
He and his manager Todd Steverson have worked together at each of his stops in the minors. Last season, playing against Corpus Christi, Robnett's team was down one run in the eighth inning. So before he stepped to the plate, Steverson told his Robnett, "I need you to hit a home run. Swing for the fences."
(The few times he's done that, it's only with players he knows can do it, Steverson said.)
Said Robnett Saturday: "I got lucky and I ended up hittng one out. I was definitely swinging for the fences."
Why was it luck?
Robnett said the park in Corpus Christi has an incredible wind blowing out to left field, so whenever he went there he tried to hit it to left field. During this at-bat he did again, and the wind took a ball that he said would have been a pop fly to third base over the fence.
"Straight wind-blown," said Steverson with a smile.
No smile for the end of this story, though. Their squad lost.
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