It was almost exactly one year ago that David Robertson undergoes an operation Tommy John, and the veteran relief now hopes to finally return to the mound in September, writes the Scott Lauber of Philadelphia Inquirer. Robertson spent the past month working and rehearsing at the Phillies’ Spring Training facility in Clearwater, and is now reporting to the club’s alternative training camp.
“I think if I could get comfortable, I could pitch at the level of the big league in three weeks. But that’s not a hard date, ”Said Robertson.
If it weren’t for the COVID-19 outbreak that hit the Phillies camp in June, Robertson could already be back on the roster. Robertson was ready to throw down a mound when the eruption struck, which sent Robertson back to his home in Alabama after the Clearwater facility closed, and cost him a month of preparation time.
After throwing multiple bullpen sessions, Robertson will face live batters at the alternative camp for the first time. His speed is not very fast, as Robertson said he “could probably reach 90“Miles per hour on his fastball, but he did not stop at 88 km / h at his bullpen. While the right-hander has never been a flamethrower, Robertson’s fastball averaged 92 mph in his 12 MLB seasons.
A return trip late last season would give Robertson the chance to save some of what has been a disastrous stint in Philadelphia. After signing a two-year, $ 23MM free agent deal in the 2018-19 offseason, Robertson set up in just seven games before being sidelined by a flexor strain, which eventually led to his Tommy John lawsuit. It was a big hit for a pitcher known for his endurance, as Robertson averaged 65 innings per season from 2010-18.
Robertson’s contract includes a $ 12MM club option for 2021, though that will almost certainly buy out for $ 2MM. As such, banking a few innings and repeating well in September would give Robertson at least some sort of free agent platform for the winter, though it will likely be difficult for a recent TJ patient entering his age-36 season to get a guaranteed to land contract. A good preview of the Phillies’ last few games could help Robertson make the case (perhaps personally, since he represented himself in his last move in free agency) that he can return to his old All-Star form now he is healthy.
