Robert to the Rangers: Daniel Robert becomes program’s 61st big leaguer

by George Nunnelley
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ARLINGTON, Texas – Former Auburn two-way player Daniel Robert has been called up to the Texas Rangers, the organization announced Monday. Robert becomes the 61st player in program history to make it to Major League Baseball. 

Robert also becomes the 10th former Tiger to be called up to the big leagues since the beginning of the 2020 season, including the third this year. He joins Casey Mize (Aug. 19, 2020), Ben Braymer (Aug. 28, 2020), Josh Palacios (Apr. 9, 2021), Keegan Thompson (May 2, 2021), Gabe Klobosits (July 30, 2021), Davis Daniel (June 11, 2022), Edouard Julien (April 12, 2023), Ryan Bliss (May 27, 2024) and Bailey Horn (June 28, 2024) on the list.

A four-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2014-17, Robert served primarily as position player and turned in a .283 career average with 185 hits, including 33 doubles and 11 home runs to go along with 104 RBI, in 191 games played. During Auburn’s 2017 NCAA Regional Final run, Robert led the team with 42 RBI and ranked third with 63 hits while playing in 60 of 63 games. 

Robert also made 14 pitching appearances across three seasons from 2015-17 and turned in 1-0 record with a 4.02 ERA and a save. He struck out 15 batters in 15.2 innings pitched. 

The Hoover, Alabama, native was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2017 MLB Draft and has spent the entirety of his five minor league seasons with the organization.

Robert has pitched for the Triple-A Round Rock Express for parts of the last three seasons and has logged 112.1 innings in 90 appearances with the club. This season, among pitchers in the Pacific Coast League with at least 30.0 innings pitched, he is fourth with a 2.35 ERA. Robert has registered 40 strikeouts with just seven walks in 30.2 innings pitched, leading to a 0.68 WHIP, and has turned in a career-high five saves. 

Robert did not allow an earned run across 19.0 innings pitched from May 22-July 4 and allowed only four hits during the stretch. He has issued only two walks in his last 20 appearances.

Texas starts a three-game series at Los Angeles tonight at 8:35 p.m. CT. The game will be available on MLB.TV as the Free Game of the Day.