Daniel Robert Bio
Daniel McGee Robert is an American professional baseball pitcher and free agent who has appeared in Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Robert made his MLB debut in 2024 after progressing through the Texas Rangers’ minor league system and established himself as a relief option at the major league level during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Early Life and Background
Daniel McGee Robert attended Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama, where he excelled in baseball and also played receiver on the football team. As a high school sophomore in 2011 he hit .556 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs and was named the 2011 Birmingham News Metro Baseball Player of the Year.
Undrafted out of high school, Robert enrolled at Auburn University and played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers. At Auburn he primarily played first base and outfield and also made limited appearances on the mound; his senior season in 2017 included a .290 batting average with five home runs and 45 RBIs along with a 2.16 ERA across six pitching appearances.
Path to Baseball
Robert was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2017 MLB Draft as a pitcher after his senior season at Auburn. The Rangers initially agreed to sign him but a torn ulnar collateral ligament discovered during his physical led the organization to void the contract and Robert underwent Tommy John surgery.
Following surgery and rehabilitation, Robert attended an open tryout and signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization in 2018. He rebuilt his professional career through the Rangers’ farm system, advancing from Low–A and Single–A assignments toward Double–A and Triple–A opportunities.
Daniel Robert Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After being drafted in 2017 and recovering from Tommy John surgery, Robert signed with the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal and made his professional debut in 2019. That season he split time between the Spokane Indians of the Low–A Northwest League and the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, combining to go 2–1 with a 0.99 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings.
Robert did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He resumed professional action in 2021, pitching across the Arizona Complex League Rangers, Hickory Crawdads and the Frisco RoughRiders with a combined 2.78 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings.
Texas Rangers Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Robert advanced to Triple–A Round Rock for the 2022 season, where he struggled to a 4–4 record with a 6.28 ERA across 38 2/3 innings but gained additional experience by appearing in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros. A non-roster invitation to major league spring training followed in 2023 and Robert returned to Round Rock that year, posting a 1–2 record with a 4.40 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 43 innings.
Robert opened the 2024 season with the Round Rock Express and compiled a 2.35 ERA with 40 strikeouts and five saves in 25 appearances. On July 8, 2024, he was selected to the Rangers’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In his rookie MLB action with Texas in 2024 he made four appearances, recording a 1–0 record and a 3.18 ERA with six strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2025–Present)
Robert was optioned to Triple–A Round Rock to begin the 2025 season and was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers on April 28, 2025. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 1, 2025, in exchange for Enrique Segura and joined Philadelphia’s major league staff that season.
With the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025 Robert made 15 appearances, working 13 innings with a 4.15 ERA and recording 15 strikeouts. He was placed on the injured list on September 3, 2025, with a right forearm strain and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 8, 2025, which ended his season. On November 21, 2025, Philadelphia non-tendered Robert and he became a free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Robert has been used primarily in relief roles and showed the ability to generate swings and misses during his time in the minors and in limited MLB appearances. His minor league record includes multiple high-strikeout outings and five saves at Triple–A, indicating experience in late-inning relief situations and a capability to handle high-leverage work when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Robert’s career include overcoming a torn UCL and Tommy John surgery to return to professional baseball, earning a promotion to the Major Leagues with the Texas Rangers on July 8, 2024, and recording a major league win during his rookie campaign. His path through independent tryouts and minor league perseverance is a defining element of his professional story.
Daniel Robert Career Wins
Through the 2025 season, Robert’s verified major league record lists a 1–0 win–loss mark with a 3.86 earned run average and 21 strikeouts. Those totals reflect his limited but impactful appearances at the MLB level across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
Major League Highlights
Robert’s first major league promotion and subsequent win came during the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers, where he appeared in four games and demonstrated enough consistency to earn additional opportunities at the big-league level in 2025. His 2025 work with the Philadelphia Phillies added innings and strikeouts, contributing to his cumulative MLB statistics through that season.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the minor league level Robert produced standout strikeout totals in 2019, recorded five saves for Round Rock in 2024, and took part in the Arizona Fall League following the 2022 season. Those performances were instrumental in maintaining his status as a depth option in affiliated baseball and earned him invitations to major league camp.
Daniel Robert Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Robert’s family background includes athletic lineage: his father, Greg Robert, played football at Auburn University in 1968 and 1969 as an offensive lineman. That collegiate sports background is part of Robert’s early exposure to competitive athletics.
Personal Life
Robert suffered a cardiac event on October 31, 2025, during a bullpen session and was saved through the use of CPR and a defibrillator; he subsequently had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placed. On March 22, 2026, Robert experienced a second cardiac event during a spring training throwing session and was released from the hospital shortly thereafter. He underwent a cardiac ablation procedure on April 3, 2026, and the Philadelphia Phillies announced on June 5, 2026, that he would not play during the 2026 season.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transitions for Robert. After beginning the year in Triple–A, he was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers and traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. With Philadelphia he made 15 appearances totaling 13 innings, posting a 4.15 ERA and 15 strikeouts before a right forearm strain placed him on the 60-day injured list in September.
Robert became a free agent after the Phillies non-tendered him on November 21, 2025. The 2025 campaign provided additional major league innings and furthered his professional resume, while injuries and the subsequent medical events in late 2025 and early 2026 affected his immediate availability and roster status.