Rays Release Former 1st-Round Pick Third Baseman; Spent Three Seasons With Club

Back on the market.

Daniel Robertson, a former first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2012 MLB Draft, has been released by the Tampa Bay Rays.

The infielder was signed to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training in February but failed to make the season-opening roster. Robertson spent the entire 2022 season at the Triple-A level with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies' organizations, where he batted .219/.319/.395 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and 39 runs scored over 67 games played.

He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Rays, before playing with the San Francisco Giants, Brewers, and the Phillies over the last two seasons.

#Rays have released the following minor league players:

RHP Matthew Peguero
RHP Alan Strong
3B Gavin Collins
INF Daniel Robertson
OF Patrick Merino
OF Daiwer Castellanos
OF Logan Allen

— MiLB-Transactions (@tombaseball29) March 31, 2023

In his major-league career spanning 299 games, Robertson holds a .227/.338/.345 triple-slash line, with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs, five stolen bases, and 105 runs scored. The decision to release Robertson from the Rays was likely influenced by his poor performance during Grapefruit League play, where he only managed a batting average of .172, an on-base percentage of .250, and a slugging percentage of .207. In 29 at-bats, he failed to hit a home run and only recorded five RBIs.

Despite his pedigree as a former first-round pick, Robertson has struggled to establish himself as a productive major leaguer.

At this point in his career, Robertson's best chance of making it back to the major leagues may be to sign another minor-league contract and hope for an opportunity to prove himself at the Triple-A level.

Alternatively, he could explore opportunities to play overseas, where his skillset may be more highly valued. Photo Credit: Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports