David Robertson
David Robertson (born April 9, 1985 in Birmingham) is a Major League baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.
Robertson attended Central-Tuscaloosa High School, which was split into three schools after his junior year. He played his senior season at Paul Bryant High School in Cottondale, graduating in 2004. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Draft out of the University of Alabama.
Robertson began his minor league careeer with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League. He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star at mid-season, and quickly moved up to the A-Advanced Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League and the the AA Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League. He finished the year with an 8-3 record and a 0.96 ERA in 84 1/3 innings. He began the 2008 season in Trenton and was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the AAA International League. On June 28, 2008 the Yankees called him up. He appeared in 25 Major League games that season, going 4-0 with 1 save and a 5.34 ERA. He was sent back to AAA before the end of the season.
Robertson was brought back to the Yankees bullpen in April 2009 to take Xavier Nady's place, but was sent back when Juan Miranda signed the next day. He returned in May to replace Brian Buney and finished the season 2-1 with 1 save and a 3.30 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. He shone in the playoffs, getting wins in two relief appearances on the way to a World Series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Robertson took a regular relief spot in 2010 and was given the eighth-inning setup role for closer Mariano Rivera in 2011. He finished that year with a 4-0 record, 1 save, 34 holds, and a 1.08 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. His 100 strikeouts as a reliever matched Rivera's Yankees record.
In May 2012 Rivera suffered a knee injury and Robertson shared closing duties with Rafael Soriano. Just 12 days later Robertson suffered a rib injury. After returning to the bullpen, he was slotted to set up Soriano. He continued in that role with Rivera's return in 2013, and went 5-1 with 3 saves and 33 holds, compiling a 2.04 ERA in 66 1/3 innings.
Robertson was named as Rivera's successor as the Yankees closer for the 2014 season, but was again hampered by injury in April. He finished the season with a 4-5 record with 39 saves and a 3.08 ERA in 64 1/3 innings. He declined a $15.3 million offer for 2015 and entered free agency, eventually singing a 4-year $46 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.
In his first season at Guaranteed Rate Field, Robertson went 6-5 with 34 saves and had a 3.41 ERA over 63 1/3 innings. He continued as closer in 2016 and won a gold medal with the United States team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Despite trade rumors, he returned to Chicago for the 2017 season, compiling a 4-2 record with 13 saves and a 2.70 ERA in 33 1/3 innings by mid-July.
The White Sox traded Robinson and two other players for four Yankees players on July 18. Back with his forme rteam he finished the season 5-0 with 1 save and a 1.03 ERA. In 2018 he went 8-3 with 5 saves and 21 holds, compiling a 3.23 ERA in 69 2/3 innings. He was recognized as the only pitcher in Major League history to have averages at least 10 strikeouts per 9 innings over each of his first 11 seasons. He was presented with the 2018 Thurmon Munson Award for the American League's Most Valuable Player.
Robertson returned to free agency in 2019 and signed a 2-year $23 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was sidelined in April with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery in August. The Phillies bought out his option in 2020 before he made another appearance. In preparation for a return to international baseball he signed a short-term contract with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (postponed to July–August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Robertson pitched for the United States baseball team which earned a silver medal after losing to the host team in the final game.
Robertson married the former Erin Cronin in 2009 and has two children, Luke and Violet. His brother Connor was called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks one day after he was, and also played for the Oakland Athletics.
After the April 2011 tornado outbreak Robertson and his wife launched a "High Socks for Hope" charity foundation to support storm victims. He later used the foundation to raise funds for the family of his former Chicago teammate Daniel Webb.
References
- David Robertson (baseball). (August 7, 2021). Wikipedia - accessed August 8, 2021
- Melick, Ray (July 11, 2008) "Pitching brothers David and Connor Robertson arrive in the majors within hours of each other." The Birmingham News