Robbie Erlin

Robert Joseph Erlin

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Scotts Valley High School
• Debut April 30, 2013

• Born October 8, 1990 in Oakland, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Robbie Erlin made it to the majors in 2013.

Erlin had a 9-1, 0.63 record as a high school senior. He had a commitment to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo but changed his plans when the Texas Rangers took him in the third round of the 2009 amateur draft (Butch Metzger was the scout). The 93rd pick overall, he was the 4th Texas selection following Matt Purke, Tanner Scheppers and Tommy Mendonca. He signed for a $425,000 bonus. He pitched briefly that summer for the AZL Rangers, fanning nine and allowing one run in four innings. In 2010, Erlin went 6-3 with a 2.12 ERA for the Hickory Crawdads; he fanned 125 in 114 2/3 innings and had a WHIP of just .92. He tied Andre Rienzo for 8th in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts and he led the league in both ERA (.09 ahead of runner-up Jorge Bucardo) and WHIP. Jim Fuller won out as the league's All-Star LHP. Baseball America ranked him as the loop's 5th-best prospect after Jonathan Singleton, Nolan Arenado, Tyler Matzek and Brody Colvin. He was third in the affiliated minors in ERA after Brandon Beachy and Matt Packer.

Robbie had a 9-4, 2.99 record and 154 K to 16 BB in 147 1/3 IP in 2011. He began the year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (3-1, 2.14, .55 WHIP in 9 G) and was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders (5-2, 4.32 in 11 G). He was then dealt with Joe Wieland to the San Diego Padres for Mike Adams. Assigned to the San Antonio Missions, he was 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in six games to end the year. Baseball America listed him as one of the best prospects in both the Carolina League (#5 after Manny Machado, Drew Pomeranz, Mike Olt and Andrelton Simmons) and the Texas League (#8, between Casey Kelly and Jedd Gyorko).

Erlin missed much of 2012 with left elbow tendonitis; he split time between San Antonio (3-1, 2.92) and the AZL Padres (0-2, 2.16). He had 80 strikeouts to 16 walks in 60 2/3 innings. Baseball America rated him as San Diego's #9 prospect going into 2013. After three starts for the Tucson Padres (2-0, 4.72), he was called up with Thad Weber being sent down.

In his MLB debut, he pitched poorly in the final inning of a 13-7 Padres win over the Chicago Cubs. Relieving Joe Thatcher with a 13-5 lead, he retired Darwin Barney but gave up a homer to pinch-hitter Cody Ransom. David DeJesus flew out, then Starlin Castro singled and Anthony Rizzo doubled him home. Dave Sappelt flew out to end the game.

Related Sites

• Robbie Erlin on mlb.com