Alabama baseball update

David Robertson Makes Major League Debut with Yankees

(UA) NEW YORK – Former Alabama All-American David Robertson made his Major League debut Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium as the New York Yankees played the final game of the 2008 Subway Series against the cross-town rival Mets.

“David Robertson was a special pitcher with good makeup,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said.  “He was a dominating college pitcher and I always knew he would get a chance to pitch in the big leagues.  I am very happy for him and his family.”

Robertson was promoted to the Major Leagues on Saturday and was in uniform for the Yankees 3-2 win over the Mets.  Robertson even introduced the Yankees starting lineup for the FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week, quipping, “I just got here, so I don’t really know anyone here.”

The Tuscaloosa , Ala. , native and Paul W. Bryant High School graduate made his big league debut on Sunday as he allowed one run and four hits in two innings of relief work.  He struck out the first batter he faced in his Major League career for his lone strikeout against the Mets.

“I figured sooner or later I’d get a shot, but I got the call sooner than I expected,” said Robertson, who began the season at Double-A Trenton. “All I was trying to do was to get here.”

He is the seventh Crimson Tide player to reach the Major Leagues under head coach Jim Wells, joining Tim Young (1998), Dustan Mohr (2001), Andy Phillips (2004), Paul Phillips (2004), Lance Cormier (2004) and Taylor Tankersley (2006).

In addition, Robertson is the fifth former Tide star to don the Yankee pinstripes, joining Hall of Famer Joe Sewell, Ken Sears, Butch Hobson and Andy Phillips.

Robertson has had an outstanding minor league career in the Yankees farm system.  He was a 17th round pick following his sophomore season at Alabama in 2006 and has quickly risen in the organization.  After winning Cape Cod League MVP honors in 2006, Robertson began his pro career with the Staten Island (N.Y.) Yankees.

In 2007, he began the season at Class A Charleston (S.C.) of the South Atlantic League, where he pitched in the 2007 SAL All-Star Game in Rome , Ga.   He appeared in 44 games last season and compiled an 8-3 record with four saves and a 0.96 ERA.  He also held opponents to a .154 batting average.  The right-hander worked 84.1 innings and allowed 12 runs and 45 hits, with 32 walks and 113 strikeouts.  He pitched for Charleston (S.C.) and Tampa ( Fla. ) in Class A ball before closing the season at Double A Trenton (N.J.) of the Eastern League.

Robertson opened the 2008 season at Trenton before being promoted to Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre ( Pa. ) of the International League.  At Trenton , Robertson had no record, two saves and a 0.96 ERA in nine games.  He worked 18 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and eight hits, with 26 strikeouts and six walks, while holding Double A foes to a .133 batting average.  At Scranton , he went 3-0 with one save and 1.64 ERA in 20 games for the Red Barons.  Robertson worked 33 innings and allowed nine runs and 18 hits, with 48 strikeouts and 16 walks, while holding opponents to a .153 batting average.

He has eight straight scoreless relief appearances (13.1 IP) before his call up to the Yankees.  In his brief career, Robertson has logged more than 200 innings on the mound and has yet to allow a home run in his pro career.

(via UA)