Nationals' Victor Robles: Optioned to Triple-A

Robles was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

For all his athleticism and prospect pedigree, Robles simply hasn't hit the ball well enough to be a big-league regular. His 68 wRC+ this season (the product of a .203/.310/.295 slash line) isn't meaningfully better than his 65 mark from last year. He'd already been losing at-bats to Lane Thomas in center and will now head to the minors in search of regular playing time. Robles has made far too much weak contact in the air this season, a recipe which doesn't usually lead to success. Among hitters with at least 350 plate appearances, his 19.9 degree average launch angle ties Nolan Arenado for ninth-highest, but his 84.1 mph average exit velocity is the third-lowest. Unless he suddenly adds a ton of strength, he'll need to re-work his swing to hit more line drives.