Philadelphia Phillies pitcher David Robertson (30) celebrates with Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) after their game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA – David Robertson is shagging fly balls during batting practice prior to Tuesday night’s game against the New York Mets with a smile on his face chatting with teammates. The night prior, he tossed a scoreless seventh inning, touching 94 m.p.h. with his cutter to help preserve Philadelphia’s 1-0 lead the Phillies would go on to win by the same score to start the four-game set.
All while 40-years-old.
“He’s in great shape. I had him the first time he came to the big leagues in New York and he’s in better shape now then he was then,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
“Maybe I should have worked out a little harder when I was younger,” Robetson laughingly said when he was told about his manager’s comment.
“Physically, I feel good. The velo and stuff is not exactly where I would like it to be. It’s getting there. I think I might have been the only guy who has come up from Triple-A and throwing softer when I got to the big leagues,” Robertson said with a smile.
Hitting 94 on the radar gun with his cutter, a pitch Robertson talked about frequently with his former teammate, Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, was a big steppingstone for the reliever according to Thomson. The manager noted that the 17-year veteran has been thinking about his velocity as he continues to help bolster a bullpen that looks to be a reliable force come October.
“Everything feels good, but I’d like for everything to be better. I always want to be better, but it’s not that easy. So, I’ll just keep continuing to work hard and keep building up strength and hopefully see everything jump up a bit,” Robertson said.
If you are the Phillies, it is hard to ask for much more from the Alabama native. After all, he did not step on a mound in an MLB game until the summer, but actively stayed in shape.
On the season, Robertson has a solid 2.84 ERA in 14 appearances with 18 strikeouts to five walks while holding opposing hitters to a .213 average against him.
When asked what has stood out to him about his reliever, Thomson said “his ability to maintain his body, his arm.”
Staying healthy and taking care of his body has helped Robertson navigate through nearly 900 regular season innings, while recording 1,172 strikeouts with eight different teams. His respectable 2.90 ERA is also noteworthy while he has climbed into the top echelon in the sport’s record book.
“He’s what, now ninth in the history of baseball in strikeouts for relievers? That’s pretty special,” Thomson said.
If Robertson can continue to add a tick or two to his cutter while unleashing his devastating knuckle curve, the Phillies have a proven and experienced late-inning reliever that has become a trustworthy option and will be relied on when José Alvarado comes off the roster for the postseason due to his PED suspension earlier this season.
All it cost the club was some time to go watch Robertson throw a bullpen session earlier in the summer and a prorated $16 million contract for the remainder of the season. It has turned into a low-risk, high-reward payout for a veteran with a short memory on the mound accustomed to pitching in pressure packed postseason atmospheres.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher David Robertson (30) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Robertson’s impact on the postseason
With the Phillies’ magic number at nine to clinch the NL East, Robertson is on the cusp of making his tenth career postseason trip in his 17-year career. After pitching in October in his first four seasons from 2009-2012 with the Yankees, including winning the 2009 World Series, Robertson returned to the playoffs with the Bronx Bombers in 2017 and 2018. He pitched for Tampa in the 2021 ALDS before wearing the red pinstripes with the Phillies in 2022 when the team fell to Houston in six games in the World Series. In 2023, he pitched for the pesky Marlins who snuck in as a Wild Card team, facing Philadelphia in the Wild Card Series.
The righty has appeared in 42 career postseason games and has posted a respectable 3.04 ERA in 47 1/3 innings of work with 57 strikeouts to just 16 walks. Now back for his third stint with the organization as an elder statesman, Robertson’s enthusiasm for pitching in another Red October is more akin to a young player experiencing a pennant race for the first time.
“This is what you play baseball for. This is what baseball is supposed to be like,” Robertson said.
“It’s a fun atmosphere, especially when you get to play baseball here at the Bank in front of these fans.”