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Growing up in a neighborhood plagued by violence and limited opportunities, Trayvon Robinson knew early on that escaping that environment would take more than just dreaming—it would take relentless effort. Trayvon was never tempted to turn the criminal activity that many of his peers chose. Baseball took him to not-so-distant neighborhoods with luxurious gated communities, well-furnished baseball programs, and rosters full of recruited prospects. He utilized commitment and his baseball talents to build a future where safety, stability, and self-worth were everyday realities. 

It was a struggle to be seen and respected by scouts and the baseball brass for Trayvon and other prospects in his area. ”It's just that it's the stigma of like, 'Oh, he's not playing against anybody.' Or 'He's not in a good league.' Don't get me wrong. It's probably not a good league. But how would you know if he is a good player or not? And that's what I had to make sure that I was put in those situations of playing against Mark Trumbo, Trevor Plouffe,

Justin Sellers, Danny Espinosa. There's a lot of guys I played against that went to prestigious high schools, but my boy Jermaine Williams, he went to Los Angeles High School. So it was just me and Jermaine that went to play against all these prestigious high schools and all these big prospects.”

Trayvon was later drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2005 MLB Draft out of Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles at the age of 17. ”They said top 10 to 15 [rounds of the draft] so for me, I was like, I'm fine with that. I just want to go play baseball. Where I grew up, my house situation wasn't great. I just wanted to go and just see how far I can go because I know on the other side there's something better.”

By 2009, Robinson was known sprung up the prospect lists. He earned a spot on the California All-Star Team in 2009, the Southern League All-Star team and in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game in 2010, and the AAA All-Star Game in 2011. Initially Trayvon was more known for his speed, making it remarkable that he was also included in the Home Run Derby of that AAA All-Star Game. 

At the July 31st, 2011 trading deadline, Trayvon Robinson was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Seattle Mariners in the three-team deal that sent Erik Bedard to the Boston Red Sox. The move came as a surprise to Robinson. ”I couldn't even tell you how much I was just crying on the inside. I was stunned.”

Trayvon Robinson made his MLB debut less than a week later with the Seattle Mariners on August 5, 2011.

In this episode, Trayvon ”T-Rob” Robinson shares his journey from growing up in South Central LA to becoming a professional baseball player. He discusses the challenges he faced in his youth, the importance of community and mentorship, his experiences during the draft, and the emotional rollercoaster of transitioning to the big leagues. Robinson's story highlights the impact of personal struggles and the support of mentors in achieving success in sports.