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Yankees minor league prospect Alex Robinett to report for service after season

07/22/2015 1:15 PM ET

By Matt Heffler


While most players will be taking time off or playing in a winter league once the regular season ends, New York Yankees prospect Alex Robinett will be doing something much bigger: joining the United States armed forces.

According to the New York Post, the 22-year-old U.S. Military Academy alum will report to Fort Still in Oklahoma at season's end, where he will start his Army training as a second lieutenant before joining the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to begin his five years of duty.

"It's part of the job I signed up for," Robinett told the Post. "Just giving back to the country. I'm sure it's dangerous, and I would probably sound like a fool if I said I didn't see that, but we're the best military in the world and we have all the equipment backing we need. I'm not anxious at all about the prospects of going [overseas]."

The Yankees were aware of Robinett's future when they selected the West Point graduate in the 32nd round of the 2015 Draft. He will have to serve two years, at which point the Yankees would be able to offer him a contract; that would allow Robinett to apply for a waiver which, if approved, would allow him to spend eight years in the reserves while playing professional baseball in lieu of his remaining three years of active duty.

"I want to be part of something bigger than myself," Robinett said of the journey. "I always told myself when I was younger, if baseball hadn't worked out, I would join the military. Going to West Point, I could join the military and play baseball."

And, that said, Robinett is focused on making himself the best player he can be while he is still playing.

"That's the ultimate goal for this season, to prove to the Yankees I'm a worthy investment," he said. "They have to know they can utilize me down the road. I think it's important to show them you have a high ceiling for potential."

While Robinett is excited to serve his country, the young pitcher certainly sees a future for himself in Pinstripes. When asked where he saw himself a few years down the line, Robinett replied: "Hopefully, pitching in the Bronx."