David Robertson

David Alan Robertson (born April 9, 1985), nicknamed "D-Rob",

Robertson enrolled at the University of Alabama and played college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide. As a freshman in 2005, Robertson appeared in a team-high 32 games with three games started. He compiled a 7–5 win–loss record with eight saves and a 2.92 earned run average (ERA), and set the single-season rookie record for most strikeouts (105).

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 selected him in the 17th round. He signed with the Yankees for a $200,000 signing bonus.

In 2007, pitching for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single-A South Atlantic League, the Tampa Yankees of the High-A Florida State League, and the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A 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. He was third among minor league relievers, with a .154 opponents batting average. 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. 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. Robertson finished the season 2–1 with a save and a 3.30 ERA and 63 strikeouts in innings.

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 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.

The Yankees entered the 2011 season with the additions of relief pitchers Pedro Feliciano and Rafael Soriano. Robertson lost out to Joba Chamberlain to be the seventh inning specialist whom manager Joe Girardi wanted to bridge to Soriano and closer Mariano Rivera. 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+ of 410, in 70 games pitched (fifth in the AL). 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 and Brad Lidge .

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.

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.

Chicago White Sox (2015–2017)

After the 2014 season, Robertson became a free agent. He signed a four-year, $46 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. 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 limited the first batters he faced to a .100 batting average, the lowest rate in both the AL and in White Sox history. Robertson was nearly traded to the Washington Nationals for Jesus Luzardo and Drew Ward; however, the deal was not completed due to disagreements regarding finances. 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. 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 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. Batters hit .183 against Robertson.

Philadelphia Phillies (2019–2020)

As a free agent, Robertson self-negotiated and signed a two-year, $23 million contract, which included a third-year $12 million club option and $2 million buyout, with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 3, 2019.

Robertson made his Phillies pitching debut on March 28, 2019, at Citizens Bank Park, against the visiting Atlanta Braves. In 2019, he did not appear in a game after April 14 due to a Grade 1 flexor 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.

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 of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball to help prepare for the 2020 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.

Following the Olympics, Robertson signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on August 16. Robertson made his major league season debut on September 1, with the Rays. In 12 appearances for Tampa Bay, he recorded a 4.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 12 innings of work. On June 22, Robertson appeared at bat for the first time in his MLB career. Robertson achieved this milestone in his 696th career game, borrowing gear from his teammates. Though he struck out against the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Diego Castillo, he was quoted as saying that the experience was a "dream come true”. In 36 games with the Cubs, Robertson went 3–0 with a 2.23 ERA and 14 saves in 40 innings pitched. In 22 games with the Phillies, Robertson went 1–3 with a 2.70 ERA and six saves in 23 innings. He also struck out 30 batters. On May 12, 2023, he recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his MLB career, becoming just the 14th relief pitcher to reach that milestone. In 40 games for the Mets, Robertson went 4–2 with a 2.05 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. In 22 games for Miami, Robertson went 2–4 with four saves and struggled to a 5.06 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 211⁄3 innings pitched. In 68 games for Texas, he went 3–4 and posted a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched.

Philadelphia Phillies (2025) On July 21, 2025, Robertson signed a prorated one-year, $16 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. For the season, Robertson amassed a 2–0 record with a 4.08 ERA and two saves in 20 appearances for the Phillies.

Robertson retired with a 68–46 career record, a 2.93 ERA, 179 saves, and 1,176 strikeouts. He was also the last remaining active former Yankee on the 2009 World Series roster.

International career Robertson played for the champion United States national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, getting the final outs against Puerto Rico in the gold medal game.

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 typically threw his four-seam fastball at . Robertson's main off-speed pitch was a curveball in the low 80s. Infrequently, he threw a circle changeup to left-handed hitters in the mid-high 80s. Although Robertson's fastball speed was not unusually high, his long stride toward home plate during his delivery appeared to "add" to his fastball by shortening the ball's time in flight. His fastball also had a "natural cut" to it, making it appear as if he was throwing a cut fastball.

Robertson always had a high walk rate (about one every two to three innings over his career). However, his high walk rate was mitigated by an outstanding strikeout rate. His high strikeout rate 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 earned him the nickname "Houdini".

High Socks for Hope Robertson and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell at a Habitat for Humanity project in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 2013 Robertson and his wife started a charitable foundation called "High Socks for Hope" to help the victims of Robertson's hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 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. 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.

In February 2018, Robertson was honored with the Thurman Munson Award for his work with High Socks for Hope.

Personal life Robertson married Erin Cronin in 2009.

Robertson's brother, Connor, played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks.