| Robbie Erlin | |
|---|---|
 Erlin with theSan Diego Padres in 2013 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1990-10-08)October 8, 1990 (age 34) Oakland, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 30, 2013, for the San Diego Padres | |
| NPB: April 17, 2021, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 13–20 |
| Earned run average | 4.87 |
| Strikeouts | 275 |
| NPB statistics (through 2021 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 2-4 |
| Earned run average | 4.39 |
| Strikeouts | 46 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Robert Joseph Erlin (born October 8, 1990) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSan Diego Padres,Pittsburgh Pirates,Atlanta Braves andLos Angeles Dodgers, and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Erlin attendedScotts Valley High School inScotts Valley, California, where he played for the school's baseball team. In 2009, his senior year, he was namedSanta Cruz County's Player of the Year. He committed to attendCalifornia Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) on a baseball scholarship.[1]
TheTexas Rangers selected Erlin in the third round of the2009 MLB draft.[2] Erlin signed, bypassing the scholarship with Cal Poly.[1] Erlin spent 2010 in Class-A ball and split 2011 between High-A andDouble-A.[3]
Texas traded Erlin along with fellow Double-A pitcherJoe Wieland to the Padres for relieverMike Adams at thenon-waiver trade deadline on July 31, 2011.[4]
Erlin was placed with the Double-ASan Antonio Missions to finish the 2011 season, where he had a 1.38 ERA in six starts.[3] He opened the 2012 season with San Antonio, but strained his elbow and developed tendinitis, making his last start for the team on May 12.[citation needed] He rehabbed the elbow late in the season with theArizona Rookie League,[5] and then pitched in theArizona Fall League.[6] Erlin joined theTucson Padres of theClass AAAPacific Coast League for the 2013 season.[7] He shuttled back and forth between Tucson and the Major League team, posting an 8-3 record and 5.07 ERA in 20 games with Tucson in 2013.[3]
In 2014 with three Padres minor league teams, he was 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA.[3]
In 2015 with El Paso, where he spent most of the season, he was 7-6 with a 5.60 ERA.[3][8]
Erlin was promoted to the Major Leagues on April 24, 2013,[1][9] and made two appearances in relief before he was optioned back to Tucson on May 2.[citation needed] Erlin was recalled on June 1 for his first Major League start against theToronto Blue Jays.[10] Erlin won the first decision of his career in that start as the Padres defeated theToronto Blue Jays, 4–3.[citation needed] He was optioned back to Tucson on June 2.[11] Erlin was promoted for a third stint on June 26 to take the rotation spot ofClayton Richard, who went to the disabled list.[12] Erlin was roughed up in successive starts in Boston and Washington in July, unable to get through the fifth inning in either start, and was optioned back to Tucson on July 8.[13] Erlin was recalled late in the season to take the rotation spot ofEdinson Vólquez.[14] He fared better in his final stint of 2013, not allowing more than two runs in any of his five starts to finish the season.[3] For the year, he went 3–3 with a 4.12 ERA with the Major League club.[3]
In 2014 with the Padres, he was 4-5 with a 4.99 ERA.[3] He missed most of the season with left elbow soreness.[8] In 2015 with San Diego, he was 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA.[3]
On May 3, 2016, Erlin was diagnosed with a partially tornUCL. He underwentTommy John surgery on his left elbow that month and missed the remainder of the 2016 season.[8] For the season, in 15.2 innings he was 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA.[3] Following the non-tenders ofAlexi Amarista andTyson Ross after the2016 MLB season, Erlin became the longest tenured Padre.[citation needed]
Erlin returned to the Padres in 2018, making the Opening Day roster as a long reliever out of the bullpen.[15] He moved to the starting rotation full-time afterTyson Ross andJordan Lyles were waived. In 39 appearances (12 starts), he finished 4-7 with an ERA of 4.21 in 109 innings.[3] In 2019, Erlin recorded an ERA of 5.37 in55+1⁄3 innings.[3] He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[citation needed]
On January 29, 2020, Erlin signed a minor league deal with thePittsburgh Pirates.[16][17] On July 20, 2020, Erlin had his contract selected to the 40-man roster. Erlin was designated for assignment on August 2.[18]
On August 7, 2020, theAtlanta Braves claimed Erlin off waivers from thePittsburgh Pirates.[19] Erlin was designated for assignment by the Braves on September 12, 2020.[20] Erlin was released by the Braves on September 14.[21]
On November 30, 2020, Erlin signed a one-year contract with theHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters ofNippon Professional Baseball.[22] Erlin made his NPB debut on April 17, 2021, allowing an earned run in two innings of work.[citation needed] He became a free agent following the 2021 season.[citation needed]
Erlin signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers on February 14, 2022.[23] He was assigned to the Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgers and was called up to the major leagues on May 7 as the 27th man for a doubleheader.[24] He pitched two innings for the Dodgers over two games, allowing two runs on two hits[3] before he was designated for assignment on May 11.[25] He pitched in 21 games for Oklahoma City (14 starts) and was 5–4 with a 7.36 ERA.[3]
On February 3, 2023, Erlin re-signed with the Dodgers on a minor league contract.[26] He returned to Oklahoma City, where he pitched in 17 games (16 starts) and logged a 4–2 record and 5.83 ERA.[3] Erlin elected free agency following the season on November 6.[27]
Erlin has an average fastball in the 88 to 90 miles per hour (142 to 145 km/h) range, but he is able to contrast it with an outstanding curveball and above-average changeup. He will also mix in cutters and sliders to give hitters a different look.[6]
Erlin's father, Rick, is the baseball coach at Scotts Valley.[28]
