Daniel Robertson (shortstop)

Robertson was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.[3][4] He made his professional debut that season for the Arizona League Athletics and also played for the Vermont Lake Monsters that season. He finished the year at .241/.330/.400 with five home runs and 30 RBIs over 55 games. In 2013, he played for the Beloit Snappers.[5] In 101 games, he hit .277/.353/.401 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs. Robertson played for the Stockton Ports in 2014[6] where he batted .310/.402/.471 with 15 home runs and 60 RBIs in 132 games.

On January 10, 2015, Robertson was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays with John Jaso and Boog Powell in exchange for Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist.[7] He attended major league spring training in 2015. In 2015 he played for the Montgomery Biscuits where he compiled a .274 batting average with four home runs and 41 RBIs in 78 games, and in 2016 he played with the Durham Bulls where he hit .259 with five home runs and 43 RBIs in 118 games.[8] The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.[9]

Robertson made the Rays' opening day roster out of spring training. Kevin Cash stated that he was chosen due to his defensive capabilities, specifically at shortstop.[10] On June 27, Robertson was optioned down to AAA Durham to make a place for newly acquired shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, but his option was voided and he was placed on the 10-Day DL with Neck Spasms.[11] He was slashing .224/.314/.365 with 5 home runs in 58 games[12] On August 4, Robertson was activated off the DL[13] He finished the year hitting .206/.308/.326 in 76 games, playing predominantly at second base, but seeing over 15 games at both shortstop and third base.[14]

Robertson started as the opening day second basemen with the plan to platoon with Brad Miller and Joey Wendle throughout the season. On April 22, Robertson recorded his first career four hit game.[15] On June 25, Robertson made his first career start in left field in order for him and Joey Wendle to receive more playing time.[16] On July 9, Robertson hit his first career walk-off, a single, against Blaine Hardy of the Detroit Tigers in a 10–9 victory.[17] On July 22, Robertson hit another walk-off, this time a grand slam, in a 6–4 win off of Kyle Barraclough of the Miami Marlins. This was the first walk-off grand slam in franchise history.[18] Ninety minutes after the end of the game, Robertson made a surprise visit to a hospitalized teen. Robertson was moved by the experience, stating “Just to see the excitement and joy on his face when I walked in that room, it’s honestly something I’ll never forget."[19] On August 3, Robertson slid hard into second base, jamming his thumb in the process. Robertson was forced to exit the game and undergo a series of MRIs, which determined that he would need to go on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb.[20] It was announced that Robertson would need surgery and effectively end his season. He finished the season hitting 262/.382/.415 with nine home runs and a 2.6 fWAR, the highest for his team at the time of his injury.[21][22] Robertson once again played more than fifteen games at second base (39), shortstop (29), and third base (19), as well as four games in left field.[23]

Robertson began the season on the Opening day roster but was optioned on June 15 after struggling offensively. He was recalled later on but was put on the disabled list on June 22 with a knee injury.[24] He ended the season with a .213 average in just 74 games.