Former Rocker Robertson prepping for World Series

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers will have one of their former pitchers in the bullpen for the Philadelphia Phillies when the 2022 World Series starts on Friday night. Game One between the Phillies and Houston Astros is slated for an 8:03 p.m. EDT first pitch from Houston’s Minute Maid Park.

David Robertson has been a key part of the Phillies bullpen during the 2022 playoffs. He is 1-0 this postseason with a 2.45 ERA and six strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Robertson was the winning pitcher following one inning of relief work in the Phillies’ 6-3 win over St. Louis on Oct. 7 in the Division Series.

An ESPN.com article by Kiley McDaniel comparing all 52 players in the World Series, noted that Robertson “only throws a cutter, slider and curveball. And he’s 37! But it’s still working.”

Robertson came to the Rockers in 2021 as a 12-year Major League veteran who had not pitched in MLB in nearly two years following an injury.

“Spring training had come and passed and I ended up not signing on with a few teams,” said Robertson during his stint with the Rockers. “I had been picking up innings locally in Rhode Island and once we finished with the [Olympic] qualifier and we went home, we had a little bit of a lull and so I’ve been picking up innings wherever I can.”

The National Training Complex for Team USA is based in Cary, NC, so when players arrived to prepare for the Olympics, the opportunity to play professionally nearby as a tune-up for the Tokyo games made the Rockers an ideal destination for Robertson as well as Team USA reliever Edwin Jackson.

Robertson appeared in two games for the Rockers in 2021 as he prepared for the Olympics. Against the Gastonia Honey Hunters on July 13th, Robertson entered the game in the third inning, striking out Josh Sale swinging on a wipeout slider that ended near Sale’s feet. Robertson’s scoreless inning of work earned him the victory in the seven-inning contest. Two days later, Robertson again faced Gastonia, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing an inherited runner to score, but did not allow a run of his own while also striking out one. His two outings captivated the Truist Point crowd, and the local media was eager to talk to him during his short stay in High Point.

As the 36-year old Robertson wrapped up his brief stay in High Point and shifted his attention to Tokyo, he was appreciative of his time at Truist Point as he returned to game form. “These guys are good. This is real baseball and it’s played at a high level,” he said. “It’s good for me to be here and to be here in this atmosphere and to get a feel for what it’s like to pitch in real games again.”