| David Robertson | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Robertson with the Mets in 2023 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1985-04-09)April 9, 1985 (age 40) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 29, 2008, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 68–46 |
| Earned run average | 2.93 |
| Strikeouts | 1,176 |
| Saves | 179 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Medals | |
David Alan Robertson (born April 9, 1985), nicknamed "D-Rob",[1] is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for theNew York Yankees,Philadelphia Phillies,Chicago White Sox,Tampa Bay Rays,Chicago Cubs,New York Mets,Miami Marlins, andTexas Rangers.
Robertson playedcollege baseball for theAlabama Crimson Tide. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the2006 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008. Robertson was a member of the Yankees team that won the2009 World Series. He was named anMLB All-Star in 2011. AfterMariano Rivera retired, Robertson served as the Yankees'closer in 2014. He signed with the White Sox as afree agent 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.
Robertson was born inBirmingham, Alabama, and played his first three years of high school baseball atCentral-Tuscaloosa High School inTuscaloosa, Alabama. He was a two-year starter for the Falcons atshortstop andpitcher. 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 attendedPaul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, graduating in 2004.[1] He led the Stampede to an area title and the Class 6A State Playoffs in the school's first year of existence.[1]
Robertson enrolled at theUniversity of Alabama and playedcollege baseball for theAlabama Crimson Tide. As a freshman in 2005, Robertson appeared in a team-high 32 games with threegames started. He compiled a 7–5win–loss record with eightsaves and a 2.92earned run average (ERA), and set the single-season rookie record for most strikeouts (105).[1] He led theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) by limiting hitters to a .183batting average. He was named Freshman All-SEC and FreshmanAll-American byBaseball America,Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, andCollegiate Baseball Magazine Freshman All-American.[1][2]
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 playedcollegiate summer baseball in theCape Cod Baseball League for theYarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and was named themost valuable player of the playoffs in Yarmouth-Dennis' championship season.[3][4]
Due to Robertson being 21 at the time of the2006 MLB draft, he was a draft-eligible sophomore and theNew York Yankees selected him in the 17th round.[5] He signed with the Yankees for a $200,000signing bonus.[6]
In 2007, pitching for theCharleston RiverDogs of theSingle-ASouth Atlantic League, theTampa Yankees of theHigh-AFlorida State League, and theTrenton Thunder of theDouble-AEastern League, he was a combined 8–3 with four saves and an 0.96 ERA in84+1⁄3 innings, allowing 45 hits while striking out 114 batters, averaging 12.1strikeouts per nine innings.[5] Robertson was a 2007 mid-season South Atlantic League All Star.[7] He was third among minor league relievers, with a .154 opponents batting average.[1]
In 2008, pitching for Trenton and theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of theTriple-AInternational League, he was 4–0 with three saves and a 1.68 ERA in53+2⁄3 innings, allowing 28 hits while striking out 77, averaging 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings.[5] He was named the International League's "Best Reliever" of 2008 inBaseball America's Best Tools survey.[1] Pitching for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009, he was 0–3 with two saves and a 1.84 ERA with 25 strikeouts in14+2⁄3 innings, averaging 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings.[5] In 2012 he pitched two scoreless innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.[5]
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On June 28, 2008, the Yankees called Robertson up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.[8] On August 28, the Yankees optioned him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a 6.31 ERA. He was recalled back to MLB on September 13.[9][10] 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.[5]
After starting the 2009 regular season in Triple-A, Robertson was recalled to MLB on April 16, to replaceXavier Nady, who had been placed on the 15-daydisabled list. The next day he was optioned back to Triple-A to open a roster spot forJuan Miranda. On May 25, he was again recalled to MLB, to replace relieverBrian Bruney.[11] Robertson finished the season 2–1 with a save and a 3.30 ERA and 63 strikeouts in43+2⁄3 innings, averaging 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings (among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, the second-best ratio in MLB behindJonathan Broxton (13.50).[12][1]
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.[13] Robertson received the win in each of those games. The Yankees won the2009 World Series over thePhiladelphia Phillies.
Robertson finished the 2010 season with a 4–5 record, one save, a 3.82 ERA, and 71 strikeouts in61+1⁄3 innings, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.[12]
In Game 6 of the2010 ALCS against the Texas Rangers, Robertson relievedPhil Hughes in the fifth inning and surrendered a two-run home run toNelson Cruz which gave the Rangers a 5–1 lead; the Rangers would win the game 6–1 to take the AL pennant.[14]
The Yankees entered the 2011 season with the additions of relief pitchersPedro Feliciano andRafael Soriano. Robertson lost out toJoba Chamberlain to be the seventh inning specialist whom managerJoe Girardi wanted to bridge to Soriano andcloserMariano Rivera.[15] Injuries to Feliciano, Soriano, and Chamberlain put Robertson in the eighth inningsetup role, where he had 55 strikeouts halfway through the season. Robertson was named to the2011 American League All-Star roster, replacingDavid Price.[16]
Robertson finished his breakout 2011 season 4–0 with a save, 34holds (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-leadingadjusted ERA+ of 410, in 70 games pitched (fifth in the AL).[12][17][1] He finished the season with 100 strikeouts (leading all AL relievers) in66+2⁄3 innings, becoming the first Yankee reliever since Rivera (in 1996) to record 100 strikeouts in a single season.[1][18][19] He struck out the 300th batter of his career in219+2⁄3 career innings on June 24, making him the third-fastest pitcher in major league history to reach that mark afterBilly Wagner (194+1⁄3) andBrad Lidge (210+2⁄3).[1] He received one point in the voting for both the ALCy Young Award (the only non-starter or non-closer to receive a vote) and ALMost Valuable Player (MVP) Award (the only reliever to receive a vote). Robertson also won theThis Year in Baseball Setup Man of the Year Award.[7]
In January 2012, the Yankees and Robertson agreed on a one-year non-guaranteed contract to avoid arbitration.[20]
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.[21] 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,[22] 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 in60+2⁄3 innings, averaging 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.[5][23]
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 in66+1⁄3 innings, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.[5][24]
Rivera retired after the 2013 season. Duringspring training in 2014, Robertson was named the Yankees' closer.[25] On April 7, Robertson was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to agroin strain.[26]
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 in64+1⁄3 innings, averaging 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings.[27] 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 afree agent.[28][29]
After the 2014 season, Robertson became a free agent. He subsequently agreed to a four-year, $46 million contract with theChicago White Sox.[30] 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 in63+1⁄3 innings, averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.[27] 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.[31] He limited the first batters he faced to a .100 batting average, the lowest rate in both the AL and in White Sox history.[1]
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 in62+1⁄3 innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.[27] Robertson suffered seven blown saves, with his walk rate rising (4.62 BB/9).[31]
Robertson pitched for the gold-medal-winningTeam USA in the2017 World Baseball Classic.[1]
With the White Sox in rebuilding mode, Robertson became enshrouded in trade rumors during the offseason and regular season.[32][33] Robertson was nearly traded to theWashington Nationals forJesus Luzardo and Drew Ward; however, the deal was not completed due to disagreements regarding finances.[32] In 2017 for the White Sox Robertson had a 4–2 record with 13 saves and a 2.70 ERA, and 47 strikeouts in33+1⁄3 innings, averaging 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings, before getting traded to the Yankees.[31]
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On July 18, 2017, the White Sox traded Robertson,Todd Frazier, andTommy Kahnle to theNew York Yankees forBlake Rutherford,Tyler Clippard,Ian Clarkin, andTito Polo.[34] In his first appearance after the trade, Robertson struck out the side in the seventh inning to preserve a 5–1 lead against theSeattle Mariners.[35] 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.[5]
In the2017 American League Wild Card Game, Robertson set career post-season single-game highs in innings pitched, with3+1⁄3, and pitches thrown, with 52. He allowed no runs and earned the win.[36]
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-high69+2⁄3 innings, averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings.[37][38][24] HisWHIP ranked seventh among AL relievers who pitched at least 60 innings.[39] Batters hit .183 against Robertson.[39] 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.[37] Pitching against the number 3 and 4 hitters in opposinglineups, he held them to a batting average of .074, as they were 4-for-54 with 22 strikeouts.[40]
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).[41][38][27] 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.[42] 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.[1] In his career through 2018, lefties had a .188 batting average and a .546on-base plus slugging (OPS) against him, and righties had a .222 batting average and a .667 OPS.[37][43] He was one of 12 pitchers in American League history to appear in 60 games in nine consecutive seasons.[44] He received the Thurman Munson Award in 2018.[1]
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As afree agent, Robertson self-negotiated and signed a two-year, $23 million contract, which included a third-year $12 million cluboption and $2 millionbuyout, with thePhiladelphia Phillies on January 3, 2019.[37][39] He donated one percent of his salary to the Phillies' charity fund.[45]
Robertson made his Phillies pitching debut on March 28, 2019, atCitizens Bank Park, against the visitingAtlanta Braves.[46] In 2019, he did not appear in a game after April 14 due to a Grade 1flexor strain in his pitching elbow; it was determined later that it required season-endingTommy John surgery.[47][48][49] In 2019, he was 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA, pitching 62⁄3 innings in seven games.[12] Robertson underwent surgery on August 17, 2019.[50] As of the end of the 2019 season, his career 661 games pitched were eighth-most of all active major league pitchers.[12]
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.[51] His option was bought out after the season, making him a free agent.[52]
On July 12, 2021, Robertson signed with theHigh Point Rockers of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball, to help prepare for the2020 Summer Olympics (contested in 2021). He pitched with the team from July 13 to 15, earning a win and not allowing a run in two appearances out of the bullpen.[53]
Following the Olympics, Robertson signed with theTampa Bay Rays on August 16.[54] Robertson made his major league season debut on September 1, with the Rays.
On March 16, 2022, Robertson signed a one-year contract with theChicago Cubs.[55] On June 22, Robertson got his first MLBat bat, in his 696th game, borrowing gear from his teammates. Though he struck out against thePittsburgh Pirates’Diego Castillo, he is quoted as saying, "made my dream come true”.[56]
On August 2, 2022, the Cubs traded Robertson to thePhiladelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcherBen Brown.[57]
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 632⁄3 innings in which he struck out 81 batters.[58] His 731 career games played were 8th-most of all active pitchers, as were his 157 career saves.[58] The Phillies advanced to the2022 World Series, where Robertson earned a save in an extra-inning, 6–5 victory in Game 1 over theHouston Astros. The Phillies would go on to lose to the Astros in six games.
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On December 9, 2022, Robertson signed a one-year, $10 million contract with theNew York Mets.[59][60] On May 12, 2023, he recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his MLB career, becoming just the 14th relief pitcher to do so.[61] In 40 games for the Mets, Robertson went 4–2 with a 2.05 ERA and 48 strikeouts across 44 innings pitched.
On July 28, 2023, the Mets traded Robertson to theMiami Marlins in exchange for prospects Ronald Hernández and Marco Vargas.[62][63] In 22 games for Miami, Robertson went 2–4 and struggled to a 5.06 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 211⁄3 innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.
On January 26, 2024, Robertson signed a one-year contract with theTexas Rangers including a mutual option for the 2025 season.[64] In 68 games for Texas, he went 3–4 and posted a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts across 72 innings pitched. On November 2, he declined his share of the mutual option and became a free agent.[65]
On July 21, 2025, Robertson signed a one-year, $16 million contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[66]
Robertson played for the championUnited States national baseball team at the2017 World Baseball Classic, getting the final outs against Puerto Rico in the gold medal game.[67]
In May 2021, Robertson was named to the roster of the national team for qualifying forbaseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[68] After the team qualified, he was named to the Olympics roster on July 2.[69] The team went on to win silver, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.[70]
With an overhand delivery, Robertson throws afour-seam fastball typically at 92–93 miles per hour (148–150 km/h). Robertson's main off-speed pitch is acurveball in the low 80s. Infrequently, he throws acircle changeup to left-handed hitters in the mid-high 80s.[71] Although Robertson's fastball speed is not unusually high, his long stride toward home plate during his delivery appears to "add" 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h) to his fastball by shortening the ball's time in flight.[72] His fastball also has a "natural cut" to it, making it appear as if he is throwing acut fastball.[73]
Robertson has always had a high walk rate (about one every two to three innings over his career), but this is mitigated by an outstandingstrikeout 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.[74] His ability to get out of jams has earned him the nickname "Houdini".[75][76]
His brother,Connor, played in MLB for theOakland Athletics and theArizona Diamondbacks.[77][78][79]Robertson married Erin Cronin in 2009.[1] They have three children, a son Luke born in August 2012, a daughter Violet born in July 2017, and a son Rhett born in March 2022 .[80][1] The family resides inBarrington, Rhode Island.[81]
Robertson and his wife started a charitable foundation called "High Socks for Hope" to help the victims of Robertson's hometown ofTuscaloosa, Alabama, deal with thetornado strikes in 2011. Robertson agreed to donate $100 for every strikeout he recorded in the season.[82][83] For his work, Robertson was nominated for the 2011Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.[84] Following the death of his former White Sox teammateDaniel Webb, Robertson set up a fundraiser for Webb's family through High Socks for Hope.[85]
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