OF Jacob Robson
OF Jacob Robson
Hometown: Windsor, Ont.
B-T: L-R.
Ht: 5’ 10”, Wt: 175 lbs.
School: Mississippi State University.
Previous teams: Windsor Selects, Tecumseh Thunder, Ontario Blue Jays, Canadian Junior National Team, Bourne Braves.
Coaches: Al Bernacchi, Dave Cooper, Dan Bleiwas, Greg Hamilton, Harvey Shapiro, John Cohen.
Drafted: Selected by the San Diego Padres (30th) in 2012.
2016 junior season: Batting .335 in 48 games with six doubles, four triples, a homer and 24 RBIs ... .860 OPS plus 18-for-20 stealing bases ... Three hits games against Floorida Atlantic, Nicholls State, Eastern Kentucky, Mississippi Valley State ... Southern Miss ... Two-hit games facing UMASS-Lowell, Oregon (twice), Georgia and Ole Miss.
MLB Pipeline Scouting Report: Jacob Robson | Rank: 183
School: Mississippi State Year: Junior
Position: OF Age: 21 DOB: 11/20/1994
Bats: L Throws: R Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 lb.
Previously Drafted: 2012, 360th (915) - SD
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 20 | Run: 65 | Arm: 40 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Drafted in the 30th round by the Padres as a Canadian high schooler in 2012, Robson was a semi-regular on Mississippi State’s 2013 College World Series club as a freshman but missed most of 2014 with an elbow injury. Undrafted as a redshirt sophomore a year ago, he could go in the first five rounds despite missing four weeks with a broken left hand and not performing as well afterward. As many as seven hitters off the Bulldogs’ Southeastern Conference regular-season champions could be drafted in June, with Robson competing with fellow outfielder Reid Humphreys to be the first.
Robson builds his game around his well above-average speed. His quickness makes him a fine defender in center field, enhances his on-base ability and makes him a basestealing threat. If he doesn’t provide enough offense to become a big league regular, his wheels and ability to use them could make him a useful fourth outfielder.
Robson employs a compact left-handed stroke at the plate, usually focusing on hitting line drives and groundballs and using the entire field. He doesn’t have much power but sometimes gets himself in trouble by trying to pull and drive the ball. He has an eye for drawing walks, adding to his profile as a top-of-the-order catalyst.
Perfect Game Scouting report: 211. Jacob Robson, of, Mississippi State (JR)
L-L, 5-11/175, Windsor, Ontario
Previously Drafted: Padres ’12 (30)
Robson may own one of the best nicknames in baseball in “The Maple Hammer.” The Ontario native has made quite a second home for himself in Starkville, and he’s really come on the last two seasons, hitting over .300 and being the consummate leadoff man for the Bulldogs both last spring and this year. At just 5-10, 175-pounds, he certainly doesn’t jump out at onlookers, but he’s an experienced, disciplined hitter who has a great feel for the barrel. He has performed well in the toughest conference in college baseball and also been a star in the Cape Cod League, so he’s definitely not afraid of the bright lights or tough competition. While he owns very little power, Robson is a plus runner who has the range and defensive chops to stick in center field so he’ll profile well as a top-of-the-order type.
2015 red-shirt sophomore: Was the only Bulldog to play all 54 games, making 50 starts in centre ... Led team in average (.324), runs scored (41), hits (60), stolen bases (21), at-bats (185), bunt singles (10) and multi-hit games (18). Was eighth in the SEC in stolen bases, 10th in on-base percentage (.436). Hit .331 against RHPs (48-for-145), .300 vs. LHPs (12 for 40). In SEC play collected 34 hits in 30 games, hitting .304 with 18 runs, 18 walks, eight stolen bases and four doubles. Had three hits with an RBI and a double at Ole Miss. Batted .400 (4-for-10) facing against No. 1 LSU, with six walks and three stolen bases. Was 2-for-5 with a double against No. 13 South Carolina. Had a career-best four hits at Kentucky. Went 3 for 5 against the Marshall Thundering Herd, stealing a Bulldog single-game high three bases in the victory ... Played summer ball for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League starting in All-Star Game.
2014 sophomore season: Appeared in 18 games until March 23, missing the rest of the season due to injury. Started four games, with three starts. Was 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts, including a successful steal of home against Eastern Illinois ... Played summer ball for the Thunder Bay Border Cats of the Northwoods League.
2013 freshman year: Hit .206 in 47 games (25 starts) in his debut campaign. Playing vs. UCLA in Game 1 of the NCAA College World Series in Omaha. Had RBI single vs. Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament. Best game of season vs. Alabama with a season-best three hits in a season-high five at-bats to go along with an RBI and his second career double. Had career-high three RBIs against Rhode Island ... Played summer ball for the Plymouth Pilgrims in the New England Collegiate League.
2012: Earned silver medal with Team Canada hitting .290 with six stolen bases in nine games at 2012 IBAF 18A World Championship held in Seoul, South Korea ... Hit .472 with 77 hits, 41 RBIs and 50 stolen bases with the Ontario Blue Jays.
Honors _ 2016: Team Captain ... 2015 Week 1 Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week ... 2014 SEC Academic Honor Roll ... 2013: Top-200 HS prospect for the 2015 draft by Perfect Game.
On other lists: 211th on Perfect Game's top 500 combined list ... Perfect Game’s 100th-Best Junior ... D1 Baseball’s 113th-Best Player ... Named 52nd-best prospect in Cape Cod by Perfect Game.
What they are saying: At Fenway Park ran 6.45 60-yard dash during his summer on the Cape ... Has elite speed, disruptive on the bases ... Slash and dash approach.