Connor Robertson
Encyclopedia
James Connor Robertson is a currently inactive right-handed Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. He was drafted out of Birmingham Southern College in the 31st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Oakland Athletics
.
in Single-A. He appeared in 25 games for the Athletics and three games for Vancouver, all in relief and posted a composite record of 2-2 and saved 13 games.
In , Robertson made three stops, starting with the Kane County Cougars
(Single-A), with whom he posted a 2-2 record and 2.93 ERA
. He then moved on to the Stockton Ports
, where he went 5-2 with a 2.76 ERA and was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento (skipping Double-A), where he pitched in three games, tossing five innings. His composite 2005 numbers were a 7-4 record, with two saves, and a 2.76 ERA, striking out
120 and walking
40 in 75 innings.
Robertson pitched the entire season with the Midland RockHounds
(Double-A). He appeared in 55 games, winning seven of nine decisions, posted a 2.82 ERA, and fanned 97 batters in 83 innings.
On December 14, 2007, Robertson was traded to Arizona along with Dan Haren
.
On December 12, 2008, he was traded to the New York Mets
in exchange for Scott Schoeneweis
. He did not make the team out of spring training and was optioned to Triple-A.
that has been clocked as high as 91 miles per hour (40.7 m/s). He also has a sweeping slider
and a changeup
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He was drafted out of Birmingham Southern College in the 31st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Professional career
Robertson split the 2004 season between the Arizona League Athletics (rookie-level) and the Vancouver CanadiansVancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
in Single-A. He appeared in 25 games for the Athletics and three games for Vancouver, all in relief and posted a composite record of 2-2 and saved 13 games.
In , Robertson made three stops, starting with the Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
(Single-A), with whom he posted a 2-2 record and 2.93 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He then moved on to the Stockton Ports
Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
, where he went 5-2 with a 2.76 ERA and was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento (skipping Double-A), where he pitched in three games, tossing five innings. His composite 2005 numbers were a 7-4 record, with two saves, and a 2.76 ERA, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
120 and walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
40 in 75 innings.
Robertson pitched the entire season with the Midland RockHounds
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
(Double-A). He appeared in 55 games, winning seven of nine decisions, posted a 2.82 ERA, and fanned 97 batters in 83 innings.
On December 14, 2007, Robertson was traded to Arizona along with Dan Haren
Dan Haren
Daniel John Haren is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.- High-school and college career :...
.
On December 12, 2008, he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in exchange for Scott Schoeneweis
Scott Schoeneweis
Scott David Schoeneweis is an American Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.In the five seasons from 2003–07, Schoeneweis allowed only one home run to left-handed batters...
. He did not make the team out of spring training and was optioned to Triple-A.
Pitch repertoire
Robertson throws a hard, sinking fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
that has been clocked as high as 91 miles per hour (40.7 m/s). He also has a sweeping slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
and a changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
.