Time may be running out on the Chattanooga Lookouts this year, but center fielder Trayvon Robinson could be on the verge of a memorable finish.
Robinson is Chattanooga's only opening-day player hitting over .300 and is ranked among the Southern League's top 10 in hitting and the top five in stolen bases. He also is on the 40-man roster of the Los Angeles Dodgers, so he has the chance of experiencing a September call-up.
"I'd probably cry if that happened," Robinson said Saturday. "Being from L.A., I didn't think I would ever have the chance of being a Dodger. I thought I would be a Pittsburgh Pirate or something different, but once they drafted me out of high school, I thought this could be for real."
Chattanooga lost to Tennessee 3-2 Saturday behind Russ Canzler's three-run home run to left off Jesus Castillo in the sixth inning, and the Lookouts are 21-27 in the season's second half with 22 games remaining. The Lookouts couldn't score in the eighth inning but made plenty of noise, as manager Carlos Subero and second baseman Jaime Pedroza were ejected, and a Kyle Russell foul ball shattered the glass casing on one of the overhead lights beyond the left-field line.
A crowd of 6,247 attended "Used Car Night" at AT&T Field, marking the event's 11th consecutive sellout at the facility, and Robinson went 2-for-4 to raise his average to .310.
Chattanooga hitting coach John Valentin believes a September call-up is possible for Robinson, who was rated before the season by Baseball America as the No. 9 organizational prospect.
"Depending on how they end up with the next two or three weeks up there will determine whether he gets one or not, I think," Valentin said. "He's done everything that he can do here, and now it's time for him to be challenged at the next level."
Even if the call-up doesn't occur, there is still the challenge of finishing over .300.
The 22-year-old Robinson is in his fourth full professional season and hit .306 with 54 RBIs and 43 stolen bases in 117 games last year at high Single-A Inland Empire. He was promoted to Chattanooga last August and hit .246 in 19 games before returning to Double-A this spring.
"Once you hit that 3-0-0, it's like going from silver to gold," Robinson said. "They say the California League is hitter-friendly, and I just wanted to show that this is for real. I'm getting better each year."
Said Valentin: "Obviously hitting .300 does a lot for your confidence, and that's the biggest thing. He's had a really nice year, and I'm really proud of him."