In his 14th big league season, Robertson has 57 wins and 157 saves. He earned his only All-Star selection in 2011 with the New York Yankees.
David Robertson and J.T. Realmuto celebrate after beating the Houston Astros 6-5 in the 10th inning in Game One of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. David Robertson walked off the mound after retiring Miami’s Miguel Rojas in April 2019. He wouldn’t throw another big league pitch for nearly 2 1/2 years.
Robertson smiled as teammates filed by him to exchange hand slaps following Friday night’s opener. Robertson got the save for getting the final three outs in a 6-5, 10-inning win, retiring Aledmys Díaz on a game-ending groundout but only after allowing runners to reach second and third. He lived up to the "Houdini" nickname he earned with the New York Yankees, where he succeeded Mariano Rivera as closer.
In his 14th big league season, Robertson has 57 wins and 157 saves. He became a late-inning reliever in 2011, earning his only All-Star trip, was promoted to primary setup man in 2012 and then closer when Rivera retired after the 2013 season. After one year in the role, Robertson left for a $46 million, four-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.
"I definitely had a rough road coming back from that injury. I had a little bit more complicated than just the Tommy John. I had flexor repair, as well," Robertson said. "So my timeline was a lot longer than most people. And I was 34 years old when I had surgery, so it took me a little bit of time to get back. In my mind that wasn’t done, I just needed it that amount of time to get my elbow right to be able to pitch.
He signed with Tampa Bay a little more than a week after the Olympics, pitched six times for Triple-A Durham and was back in the majors on Sept. 1, 2021. He pitched 12 regular-season games and three in the Division Series. Then in January, he reached a $3.5 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs that would earn him another $1.6 million in bonuses.
Robertson had six saves in nine chances with a 2.70 ERA for the Phillies and finished the season with 20 saves in 28 chances and a .173 opponents’ batting average along with a 2.40 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He averaged 93 mph with his cutter, close to his pre-surgery peak.