Dodgers’ prospect won’t let upbringing stand in way

Like former All-Star Darryl Strawberry, Dodgers' prospect Trayvon Robinson starred at Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles.

But the Albuquerque center fielder didn't wear much Crenshaw-related clothing. He said it was too dangerous.

"Where I went to high school at Crenshaw, there's a rival gang where I laid my head. I couldn't be wearing any Crenshaw stuff around too much, because they'd probably think I'm from a rival gang," Robinson, 23, said. "It's kind of cooled off. ... It's not as bad as it was when I was growing up. But I'm glad I went through it.

"It only made me a better person, staying humble and (overcoming) all the obstacles in front of me,'' Robinson said. ''I'm still climbing, but I got over the worst part already."

Robinson, who said a couple of bullets ripped through his window at his home one afternoon when he was growing up, said his mother, Jackie Jenkins, was a huge influence.

"She forced me to play sports and stay active, and not just hang around," he said.

A product of baseball's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program, Robinson was drafted by the Dodgers out of high school in 2005 in the 10th round and aspires to be a role model in his former neighborhood and beyond.

"Absolutely. You always want to give back," Robinson said Tuesday before going 0-for-3 for the Isotopes (18-13) in a 7-0 loss to the 51s (17-16) at Cashman Field.

"There's probably the same guy down there from where I came from in my shoes right now, who had all the gangs and is trying to stay focused and keep their eyes on the prize," he said.

The switch-hitting Robinson is excelling for Albuquerque in his first Triple-A season, batting .327 with a team-leading seven home runs and 22 RBIs.

"Trayvon has been one of those guys who has gotten better and better each year in our system. We think he has a chance to play in the big leagues for us for a long time," Isotopes manager Lorenzo Bundy said.

"He's a switch hitter with power, he's capable of stealing a base, and he can go get a ball in center field."

The Dodgers' No. 10 prospect, as ranked by Baseball America, Robinson compiled a career-high 16-game hitting streak in April.

He hit .300 in each of the last two seasons, with a combined 26 homers, 121 RBIs and 85 steals. He had a .404 on-base percentage and made only four errors last year for Double-A Chattanooga.

The seventh-year pro said he envisions making his major league debut for the Dodgers "probably every night."

If he can continue his strong start and cut down on his strikeouts, Robinson could very well realize that goal this season.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.