David Alan Robertson (born April 9, 1985), nicknamed D-Rob,
is an American
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professional ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
for the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
,
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
,
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
,
Chicago Cubs, and
Philadelphia Phillies.
Robertson played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...
for the
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I as a me ...
. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the
2006 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008. Robertson was a member of the Yankees team that won the 2009 World Series. He was named an
MLB All-Star
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the all-stars from the American League (AL) and National ...
in 2011. After
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most ...
retired, Robertson served as the Yankees'
closer in 2014. He signed with the White Sox as a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
after the 2014 season and was traded back to the Yankees in July 2017. Robertson signed with the Phillies as a free agent after the 2018 season.
Amateur career
Robertson was born in
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
, and played his first three years of high school baseball at
Central-Tuscaloosa High School in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population o ...
. He was a two-year starter for the Falcons at
shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...
and
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. He helped lead his team to back-to-back area titles, as well as back-to-back 6A State Playoff appearances. After his junior year, Central High School was split into three smaller high schools, and Robertson attended
Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, graduating in 2004.
He led the Stampede to an area title and the Class 6A State Playoffs in the school's first year of existence.
Robertson enrolled at the
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the publi ...
and played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...
for the
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I as a me ...
. As a freshman in 2005, Robertson appeared in a team-high 32 games with three
games started
In baseball statistics, games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opposing batter. If a player is li ...
. He compiled a 7–5
win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of matc ...
with eight
saves and a 2.92
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA), and set the single-season rookie record for most strikeouts (105).
He led the
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American college athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central and Southeastern United States. Its fourteen members include the flagship public universities o ...
(SEC) by limiting hitters to a .183
batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
. He was named Freshman All-SEC and Freshman
All-America
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...
n by ''
Baseball America'',
Louisville Slugger
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...
Freshman All-American, and ''
Collegiate Baseball Magazine'' Freshman All-American.
In his sophomore season, Robertson helped lead the Crimson Tide to their 25th SEC Championship. He appeared in 29 games, compiling a 4–4 record with a 3.02 ERA. He led the SEC with 10 saves. In 2006, he played
collegiate summer baseball in the
Cape Cod Baseball League for the
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and was named the
Most Valuable Player of the playoffs in Yarmouth-Dennis' championship season.
Minor leagues
Due to Robertson being 21 at the time of the
2006 MLB draft, he was a draft-eligible sophomore and the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
selected him in the 17th round.
He signed with the Yankees for a $200,000
signing bonus.
In 2007, pitching for the
Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League. They are located in Charleston, South Carolina, and are the Single-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The RiverDogs' home stadium is Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.
Hi ...
of the
Class A South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...
, the
Tampa Yankees
Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough C ...
of the
Class A-Advanced
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
Florida State League, and the
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the ...
of the
Class AA
Double-A (officially Class AA) is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League ...
Eastern League, he was a combined 8–3 with four saves and an 0.96 ERA in innings, allowing 45 hits while striking out 114 batters, averaging 12.1
strikeouts per nine innings
In baseball statistics, strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9, SO/9, or SO/9IP) is the mean of strikeouts (or Ks) by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by multiplying the number of strikeouts by nine, and dividing by the numb ...
.
Robertson was a 2007 mid-season South Atlantic League All Star.
He was third among minor league relievers, with a .154 opponents batting average.
In 2008, pitching for Trenton and the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the ...
of the
Triple-A International League, he was 4–0 with three saves and a 1.68 ERA in innings, allowing 28 hits while striking out 77, averaging 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
He was named the International League's "Best Reliever" of 2008 in ''Baseball Americas Best Tools survey.
Pitching for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009, he was 0–3 with two saves and a 1.84 ERA with 25 strikeouts in innings, averaging 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
In 2012 he pitched two scoreless innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Major leagues
New York Yankees (2008–2014)
2008–2011
![AAAA5350 David Robertson (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/AAAA5350_David_Robertson_%28cropped%29.jpg)
On June 28, 2008, the Yankees called Robertson up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. On August 28, the Yankees optioned him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a 6.31 ERA. He was recalled back to the MLB on September 13. He appeared in 25 MLB games in 2008, going 4–0 with a save and a 5.34 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 34 innings, averaging 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
After starting the 2009 regular season in Triple-A, Robertson was recalled to the MLB on April 16, to replace
Xavier Nady
Xavier Clifford Nady VI (; born November 14, 1978) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. Nady played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Ari ...
, who had been placed on the 15-day
disabled list. The next day he was optioned back to Triple-A to open a roster spot for
Juan Miranda. On May 25, he was again recalled to the MLB, to replace reliever
Brian Bruney. Robertson finished the season 2–1 with a save and a 3.30 ERA and 63 strikeouts in innings, averaging 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings (among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, the second-best ratio in the MLB behind
Jonathan Broxton
Jonathan Roy Broxton (born June 16, 1984) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardin ...
(13.50)).
In the 2009 playoffs, Robertson entered two games in high-pressure situations with multiple runners on base, once in the ALDS and once in the ALCS, and did not allow any runs to score. Robertson received the win in each of those games. The Yankees won the
2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2009 season. As the 105th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National Leag ...
over the
Philadelphia Phillies.
Robertson finished the 2010 season with a 4–5 record, one save, a 3.82 ERA, and 71 strikeouts in innings, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
In Game 6 of the
2010 ALCS against the Texas Rangers, Robertson relieved
Phil Hughes in the fifth inning and surrendered a two-run home run to
Nelson Cruz
Nelson Ramón Cruz Martínez Jr. (born July 1, 1980) is a Dominican-American professional baseball designated hitter and right fielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas ...
which gave the Rangers a 5–1 lead; the Rangers would win the game 6–1 to take the AL pennant.
![David Robertson and Alex Rodriguez](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/David_Robertson_and_Alex_Rodriguez.jpg)
The Yankees entered the 2011 season with the additions of relief pitchers
Pedro Feliciano and
Rafael Soriano
Rafael Soriano (born December 19, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Chicago ...
. Robertson lost out to
Joba Chamberlain to be the seventh inning specialist whom manager
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and S ...
wanted to bridge to Soriano and
closer Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most ...
. Injuries to Feliciano, Soriano, and Chamberlain put Robertson in the eighth inning
setup role, where he had 55 strikeouts halfway through the season. Robertson was named to the
2011 American League All-Star roster, replacing
David Price.
Robertson finished his breakout 2011 season 4–0 with a save, 34
holds (tied for the AL lead), leading the league in ERA (1.08), along with a 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings ratio (second in the AL, and the highest ratio by a Yankee reliever in franchise history), and an MLB-leading
adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average (ERA) according to the pitcher's ballpark (in case the ballpark favors batters or pitchers) and the ERA of ...
of 410, in 70 games pitched (fifth in the AL).
He finished the season with 100 strikeouts (leading all AL relievers) in innings, becoming the first Yankee reliever since Rivera (in 1996) to record 100 strikeouts in a single season.
He struck out the 300th batter of his career in career innings on June 24, making him the third-fastest pitcher in major league history to reach that mark after
Billy Wagner
William Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971), nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched for the Houston Astros (1995–2003), Philadelphia Ph ...
() and
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas Lidge (born December 23, 1976) nicknamed "Lights Out" is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Lidge played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 2002–2012. He played for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phi ...
().
He received one point in the voting for both the AL
Cy Young Award (the only non-starter or non-closer to receive a vote) and AL
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (the only reliever to receive a vote). Robertson also won the
''This Year in Baseball'' Setup Man of the Year Award.
2012–2014
In January 2012, the Yankees and Robertson agreed on a one-year non-guaranteed contract to avoid arbitration.
When Rivera went down with a season-ending injury in May 2012, Girardi announced that Robertson and Soriano would share the duties of closing games for the remainder of the season. Robertson himself was placed on the 15-day disabled list however on May 15, after he strained a muscle in his rib cage, 12 days after Rivera's season-ending injury. He returned to action on June 15, but after several appearances became the setup man for Soriano. Robertson finished the 2012 season with a record of 2–7, a 2.67 ERA, two saves, and 30 holds (tied for third in the AL) in 65 games, with 81 strikeouts in innings, averaging 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
![David Robertson at Baltimore 9-11-13](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/David_Robertson_at_Baltimore_9-11-13.jpg)
In 2013, Robertson served as the eighth inning setup reliever behind Rivera. He appeared in 70 games, going 5–1 with three saves and 33 holds (second in the AL) and a 2.04 ERA and 77 strikeouts in innings, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Rivera retired after the 2013 season. During
spring training in 2014, Robertson was named the Yankees' closer. On April 7, Robertson was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a
groin strain.
Robertson had a 4–5 record and a 3.08 ERA in 2014, was successful on 39 (third in the AL) out of 44 save attempts, and struck out 96 batters in innings, averaging 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
In his lone season as Yankees' closer, Robertson garnered praise as a worthy successor to Rivera. He was paid $5.215 million in 2014. On November 10, Robertson declined the Yankees' $15.3-million qualifying offer for the 2015 season, making him a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
.
Chicago White Sox (2015–2017)
![David Robertson 20150427-0120](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/David_Robertson_20150427-0120.jpg)
After the 2014 season, Robertson became a free agent. He subsequently agreed to a four-year, $46 million contract with the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
. Robertson served as the White Sox closer during his tenure in Chicago. In his first season with the White Sox, Robertson compiled a 6–5 record with 34 saves (sixth in the AL), a 3.41 ERA, and 86 strikeouts in innings, averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
He blew seven saves, but struck out 34.4% of batters and lowered his walk rate to a career-best 5.2%, averaging 1.8 walks per nine innings.
He limited the first batters he faced to a .100 batting average, the lowest rate in both the AL and in White Sox history.
In his second season as the White Sox closer, Robertson earned 37 saves (fourth in the AL), pitching to a 5–3 record and 3.47 ERA while striking out 75 batters in innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Robertson suffered seven blown saves, with his walk rate rising (4.62 BB/9).
Robertson pitched for the gold-medal-winning
Team USA
The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions.
Olympic teams
Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...
in the
2017 World Baseball Classic.
With the White Sox in rebuilding mode, Robertson became enshrouded in trade rumors during the offseason and regular season.
Robertson was nearly traded to the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
for
Jesus Luzardo and Drew Ward; however, the deal was not completed due to disagreements regarding finances.
In 2017 for the White Sox Robertson had a 4–2 record with 13 saves and a 2.70 ERA, and 47 strikeouts in innings,, averaging 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings, before getting traded to the Yankees.
New York Yankees (2017–2018)
![David Robertson in 2017 (36924962082)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/David_Robertson_in_2017_%2836924962082%29.jpg)
On July 18, 2017, the White Sox traded Robertson,
Todd Frazier
Todd Brian Frazier (born February 12, 1986), nicknamed "The Toddfather", is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Texas Rang ...
, and
Tommy Kahnle to the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
for
Blake Rutherford
Blake Rutherford (born May 2, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.
Amateur career
Rut ...
,
Tyler Clippard
Tyler Lee Clippard (born February 14, 1985) is an American professional baseball free agent pitcher. He has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Nationals, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, ...
,
Ian Clarkin
Ian Richard Clarkin (born February 14, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 33rd overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.
Career New York Yankees
Clar ...
, and
Tito Polo. In his first appearance after the trade, Robertson struck out the side in the seventh inning to preserve a 5–1 lead against the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...
. In the 2017 regular season for the Yankees, he was 5–0 with a save and a 1.03 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 35 innings, averaging 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
In the
2017 American League Wild Card Game
The 2017 American League Wild Card Game was a play-in game during Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2017 postseason that was played between the American League's (AL) two wild card teams, the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. The game was ...
, Robertson set career post-season single-game highs in innings pitched, with , and pitches thrown, with 52. He allowed no runs and earned the win.
In 2018, Robertson was 8–3 with five saves, 21 holds (tied for eighth in the AL), and a 3.23 ERA, and 91 strikeouts in a career-high innings, averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
His
WHIP ranked seventh among AL relievers who pitched at least 60 innings.
Batters hit .183 against Robertson.
Left-handed batters hit .176 with a .240 on-base percentage against him; both in the top eight among pitchers who faced 130 or more lefties.
Pitching against the number 3 and 4 hitters in opposing
lineups, he held them to a batting average of .074, as they were 4-for-54 with 22 strikeouts.
Through 2018, in his 11-year career Robertson had a lifetime 2.88 ERA with 137 saves in 654 games pitched (10th among active players).
He had averaged 11.97 strikeouts per nine innings, the most of any active pitcher with at least 650 career innings pitched, and had never averaged a season strikeout rate of less than 10.4. He became the only pitcher in major league history to average at least 10 strikeouts/9 innings pitched in each of his first 11 seasons.
In his career through 2018, lefties had a .188 batting average and a .546
on-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player both to get on base and to hit for power, two important offensive skills, are ...
(OPS) against him, and righties had a .222 batting average and a .667 OPS.
He was one of 12 pitchers in American League history to appear in 60 games in nine consecutive seasons. He received the Thurman Munson Award in 2018.
Philadelphia Phillies (2019–2020)
As a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
, Robertson self-negotiated and signed a two-year, $23 million contract, which included a third-year $12 million club
option and $2 million
buyout
In finance, a buyout is an investment transaction by which the ownership equity of a company, or a majority share of the stock of the company is acquired. The acquiror thereby "buys out" the present equity holders of the target company. A buyout ...
, with the
Philadelphia Phillies on January 3, 2019.
He donated one percent of his salary to the Phillies' charity fund.
Robertson made his Phillies pitching debut on March 28, 2019, at
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a baseball stadium located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the city's South Philadelphia Sports Complex. It is the home playing field of the Philadelphia Phillies, the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. The ...
, against the visiting
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...
. In 2019, he did not appear in a game after April 14 due to a Grade 1
flexor
A flexor is a muscle that flexes a joint. In anatomy, flexion (from the Latin verb ''flectere'', to bend) is a joint movement that decreases the angle between the bones that converge at the joint. For example, one’s elbow joint flexes when one ...
strain in his pitching elbow; it was determined later that it required season-ending
Tommy John surgery.
In 2019, he was 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA, pitching 6 innings in seven games.
Robertson underwent surgery on August 17, 2019. As of the end of the 2019 season, his career 661 games pitched were eighth-most of all active major league pitchers.
On August 28, 2020, Robertson suffered a setback during his recovery from Tommy John surgery and was immediately shut down from throwing, effectively ending his season without making an appearance. His option was bought out after the season, making him a free agent.
High Point Rockers and Tampa Bay Rays (2021)
On July 12, 2021, Robertson signed with the
High Point Rockers
The High Point Rockers are an American professional baseball team based at Truist Point ballpark in High Point, North Carolina, which is part of the Piedmont Triad region. They are members of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Profession ...
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, to help prepare for the
2020 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 1 ...
(contested in 2021). He pitched with the team from July 13 to July 15, earning a win and not allowing a run in two appearances out of the bullpen.
Following the Olympics, Robertson signed with the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
on August 16, 2021. Robertson made his major league season debut on September 1, 2021 with the Rays.
Chicago Cubs (2022)
On March 16, 2022, Robertson signed a one-year contract with the
Chicago Cubs. On June 22, 2022, Robertson got his first Major League Baseball
at bat, in his 696th game, borrowing gear from his teammates. Though he struck out, he is quoted as saying, "made my dream come true”.
Philadelphia Phillies (2022)
On August 2, 2022, the Cubs traded Robertson to the
Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcher
Ben Brown.
In 2022 between both teams he was 4–3 with 20 saves (8th in the NL) in 58 games and a 2.40 ERA in 63.2 innings in which he struck out 81 batters.
His 731 career games played were 8th-most of all active pitchers, as were his 157 career saves.
New York Mets
On December 9, 2022, Robertson signed a one-year contract with the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
.
International career
Robertson played for the champion
United States national baseball team
The United States national baseball team represents the United States in international-level baseball competitions. The team is currently ranked 5th in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Team USA won the Olympic baseball t ...
at the
2017 World Baseball Classic, getting the final outs against Puerto Rico in the gold medal game. Robertson and
Robinson Cano are the only
Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
to win both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic.
In May 2021, Robertson was named to the roster of the national team for qualifying for
baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. After the team qualified, he was named to the Olympics roster on July 2. The team went on to win silver, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.
Pitching style
With an overhand delivery, Robertson throws a
four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is c ...
typically at . Robertson's main off-speed pitch is a
curveball in the low 80s. Infrequently, he throws a
circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup (also called the "okay changeup", related to the thumb and index finger touching) is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name circle changeup. The circle is formed by making a ...
to left-handed hitters in the mid-high 80s. Although Robertson's fastball speed is not unusually high, his long stride toward home plate during his delivery appears to "add" to his fastball by shortening the ball's time in flight. His fastball also has a "natural cut" to it, making it appear as if he is throwing a
cut fastball
In baseball, a cut fastball or cutter is a type of fastball that breaks toward the pitcher's glove-hand side, as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a four-seam fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slide ...
.
Robertson has always had a high walk rate (about one every two to three innings over his career), but this is mitigated by an outstanding
strikeout rate; Robertson has averaged at least one strikeout per inning in every year of his career so far. His high strikeout rate has proved useful in critical late-inning situations — in 2011, Robertson struck out 14 of the 19 hitters he faced with the bases loaded and allowed only one hit. His ability to get out of jams has earned him the nickname "
Houdini
Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician R ...
".
Personal life
![David Robertson and Terri Sewell in 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/David_Robertson_and_Terri_Sewell_in_2013.jpg)
His brother,
Connor, formerly played for the
Oakland Athletics and the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...
.
Robertson married Erin Cronin in 2009.
They have two children, a son born in August 2012, and a daughter born in July 2017.
The family resides in
Barrington, Rhode Island
Barrington is a suburban, residential town in Bristol County, Rhode Island located approximately southeast of Providence. It was founded by Congregationalist separatists from Swansea, Massachusetts and incorporated in 1717.
Barrington was ced ...
.
Robertson and his wife started a charitable foundation called "High Socks for Hope" to help the victims of Robertson's hometown of
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population o ...
, deal with the
tornado strikes in 2011. Robertson agreed to donate $100 for every strikeout he recorded in the season. For his work, Robertson was nominated for the 2011
Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award
The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player "whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement." The award was created by the Major ...
. Following the death of his former White Sox teammate
Daniel Webb, Robertson set up a fundraiser for Webb's family through High Socks for Hope.
See also
*
List of baseball players who underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery (TJS), known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is a surgical graft procedure in which the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from el ...
References
External links
*
David and Erin Robertson's Foundation: "High Socks For Hope"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, David
1985 births
Living people
Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players
American League All-Stars
Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Baseball players from Birmingham, Alabama
Charleston RiverDogs players
Chicago Cubs players
Chicago White Sox players
Major League Baseball pitchers
New York Yankees players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees players
Tampa Bay Rays players
Tampa Yankees players
Trenton Thunder players
World Baseball Classic players of the United States
Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players
2017 World Baseball Classic players
United States national baseball team players
Olympic baseball players of the United States
Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Olympic silver medalists for the United States in baseball