Daniel Robert (baseball)

Daniel Robert
Robert with the Round Rock Express in 2022
Texas Rangers – No. 57
Relief pitcher
Born: (1994-08-30) August 30, 1994 (age 30)
Hoover, Alabama, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 10, 2024, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 Season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average3.18
Strikeouts6
Teams

Daniel McGee Robert (born August 30, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Amateur career

Robert attended Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama.[1] In his sophomore season of 2011, Robert hit .556 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs and was named the 2011 Birmingham News Metro Baseball Player of the Year.[2] Robert played receiver on the football team in high school.[3] Undrafted out of high school in 2013, Robert attended Auburn University and played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers.[4] At Auburn, Robert played mainly first base and outfield. He enjoyed his best season as a senior in 2017; hitting .290/.402/.429/.830 with 5 home runs and 45 RBI, while recording a 2.16 ERA over 6 appearances on the mound.[5][6] Robert was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2017 MLB draft as a pitcher.[7]

Professional career

Robert agreed to sign with Texas for a $5,000 signing bonus, but during his physical an MRI revealed a torn UCL.[8] Texas voided his contract and he underwent Tommy John surgery. After rehabbing for six months Robert attended an open tryout with Texas and was signed to a minor league contract in 2018.[8] He spent the remainder of the season in rehabilitation.[8] Robert split his professional debut season of 2019 between the Spokane Indians of the Low–A Northwest League and the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, going 2–1 with a 0.99 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 36+1⁄3 innings.[8] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Robert split the 2021 season between the Arizona Complex League Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Hickory, and the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central, going a combined 0–1 with a 2.78 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 22+2⁄3 innings.[10][11] Robert spent the 2022 season with the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and struggled to a 4–4 record with a 6.28 ERA over 38+2⁄3 innings. He followed the 2022 season by appearing in eight games for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.[12] Robert received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training in 2023 and returned to Round Rock for the season, going 1–2 with a 4.40 with 51 strikeouts over 43 innings.[13]

Robert began the 2024 campaign with Round Rock, compiling a 2.35 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 5 saves across 25 appearances. On July 8, 2024, Robert was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[14]

References

  1. ^ "National Signing Day: Briarwood Christian School". 280Living.com. February 6, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Sentell, Jeff (June 16, 2011). "Briarwood Christian's Daniel Robert selected Metro Baseball Player of the Year". The Birmingham News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Crenshaw Jr, Solomon (November 30, 2010). "Daniel Robert has become the go-to guy at receiver for Briarwood Christian". The Birmingham News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Briarwood Christian doesn't let a meager record sway its confidence". The Birmingham News. April 23, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Vitale, Josh (June 14, 2017). "2 Auburn seniors, 5 signees taken on the final day of MLB Draft". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Vitale, Josh (April 13, 2017). "Daniel Robert, No. 11 Auburn baseball set for SEC road series at Tennessee". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Auburn's Daniel Robert picked by Rangers in MLB Draft". The Birmingham News. June 14, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d Newberg, Jamey (June 6, 2020). "Relationship goals: The edge the Rangers believe they have once MLB draft ends". The Athletic. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Weaver, Levi (October 18, 2021). "For Rangers pitching prospects Chase Lee, Tai Tiedemann and Daniel Robert, the path to Frisco has been unusual". The Athletic. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Lucas, Scott (November 17, 2021). "40-Man / Rule 5 Preview – 11/17/2021". The Newberg Report. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Callis, Jim (October 17, 2022). "Rocker leads Rangers prospects in AFL". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Postins, Matthew (January 28, 2023). "Rangers Invite Top Prospects to Spring Training". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Rangers Select Daniel Robert". mlbtraderumors.com. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.