David Robertson
John Sickels Baseball Prospect Book 2008 arrived in the mail yesterday. Fun stuff, as always.
One entry that caught my eye was on David Robertson. John likes him as a sleeper.
Robertson was selected by the Yankees in 17th Round (524th overall) of 2006 amateur draft. He’s a little right-hander. He’s listed at 5′ 11″ – and, in baseball, if they list you at five-eleven, you’re probably closer to five-ten or five-nine.
David was named as a second-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America as a relief pitcher.
His pro-stats from 2007 are impressive: 84.1 IP, 45 H, 32 BB and 113 K’s. He was able to have a brief stay at Double-A and fanned 9 of the 16 batters that he faced there.
David probably gets left off most prospect lists because of his height. It always happens to small righties. But, his stuff is there.
There’s a chance, I suppose, that he starts the year at Double-A this season and maybe works his way up to Triple-A at some point too…and then ends up in the Bronx later this season?
Then again, he could be the next Ryan Bradley as well. In any event, it’s a name that’s worth keeping on the radar, just in case. And, it doesn’t seem like he’s on the radar for many who like to keep such lists.
David probably gets left off most prospect lists because of his height. It always happens to small righties. But, his stuff is there.
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You’d think people would learn by now about short pitchers; Ron Guidry, Billy Wagner, Roy Oswalt, Pedro Martinez, Francisco Rodriguez, etc, etc, etc
Steve,
I was always excited when I heard the Yanks had signed Robertson a few years back.
Curiously, when I saw him throw in college, his velocity was much higher than it is now. In the inning I saw, he averaged 94 and touched 96 on two different occassions. Simply filthy, and hitters had no chance.
Of the pitchers I’ve seen here in the SEC over the past few seasons, he ranks with the most dominant of the group. Off the top of my head, I’d go.
1. Andrew Miller In A Regional Win over Alabama
2. David Price At The SEC Tournament
3. David Robertson
I hope he continues his success.
He’s been on the prospect radar since he was drafted and pitched in the Cape Cod league. He’s a fan fav.
Robertson’s not a huge sleeper, but he is one none the less. He made BA’s Top 30 in the Prospect Handbook.
I think it’s a given that he starts ’08 with Trenton, and if he pitches even remotely close to how he did last year, the Yanks will have no problem moving him up to Scranton at mid-season.
I think he gets left off – or at least ranks low – on a lot of prospect lists because he’s already a reliever (nothing to fall back on), and there’s almost no projection left.