Bees' Robinson cornering baseball

BURLINGTON, Iowa -- The opportunity of a lifetime was staring Derrick Robinson right in the face, begging him to seize it. The promise of sun-soaked days filled with palm trees, pretty-eyed co-eds and the constant recognition of playing college football for a perennial powerhouse was there for the taking. To play cornerback for his hometown team, the Florida Gators, was an opportunity most high school athletes only dream about.

But it wasn't even Robinson's best option.

A two-star athlete with scorching speed, Robinson turned down the opportunity to play for the Gators when the Kansas City Royals made him their fourth-round selection (No. 107 overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and signed him to an $850,000 deal.

Suddenly, the palms trees weren't as appealing.

"The Royals came along, made an offer I couldn't refuse, and I was more than happy to start my professional career," he said.

In his first full season of professional baseball, Robinson is playing for the Royals' Class A Midwest League affiliate, the Burlington Bees. A small rural town tucked away in the far southeast corner of Iowa, Burlington couldn't be more different from the always-hopping paradise of Gainesville, Fla.

But Robinson hasn't had a problem with living the small town life, away from all the glitz and glamour. It's some of the other nuances of Minor League life he wasn't totally prepared for.

"The bus rides, sometimes ... you've got to rush to try to get a seat to yourself," he said. "If you don't get a seat to yourself, it's going to be a long ride."

Whether it's on the bus, in the dugout or on the field, most of Robinson's time is spent with his teammates, who have become his second family. And even though there aren't any beaches or world-renowned theme parks in Burlington, they find ways to keep one another entertained.

"To be honest I don't know too many people out here," Robinson said. "I pretty much hang out with my teammates, for the most part. They're a great group of guys.

"We play video games, and there's a place called Fun City that we go to every now and then. It's a place for entertainment. There are Go-Karts, arcades, bowling and pool."

Robinson's positive attitude, strong work ethic and infectious smile have made him an instant hit throughout the community.

"Derrick's a great guy," Randy Wehofer, the Bees' broadcaster and assistant GM, said. "He's very respectful, a 'Yes sir' type of guy. Everybody in the organization loves him."

Because of his involvement with other sports, Robinson had never been able to give baseball his full attention. It was always football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring. Since he's turned pro, something he's had to work on is becoming a complete ballplayer.

"I just want to become consistent at the plate, become a solid hitter and a solid defensive player, too," he said. "I'm just learning day by day, trying to become consistent."

His talent is raw, but he's always had the big-league speed, running a 60-yard dash in 6.19 seconds in front of awe-stricken scouts last year. That speed, the Royals hope, will allow him to transition into being a solid center fielder and dangerous leadoff man.

From the broadcaster's booth, Wehofer has already noticed a significant improvement in Robinson's play.

"Derrick has a whole lot of talent, he just needs to be refined," Wehofer said. "He's been working every day and has become a whole lot better as a baseball player since the spring."

But he still has a long way to go if he wants to make it to the top. After 34 games this season, Robinson is hitting .255 and has struck out 41 times.

Does he wonder if he made the right decision, after all?

"Football was fun, but I put it in the past," Robinson said. "I try not to think about it at all. My focus is on baseball."