Connor Robertson Stats & Scouting Report

Full name James Connor Robertson
Born 09/10/1981 in Tuscaloosa, AL
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Birmingham-Southern
Debut 05/17/2007
Drafted in the 31st round (937th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2004.

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Senior sign Connor Robertson, whose younger brother David, an Alabama signee, is one of the state's better prep righthanders, helped Birmingham-Southern have its best season since moving to Division I. Robertson helped the Panthers win the NAIA World Series as a freshman and has added closing duties over the course of his career; he throws in the 89-92 range off the mound. However, his power bat is his best tool, and he might be athletic enough for third base.

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Robertson was an offensive star at Birmingham-Southern, finishing his four-year career as the school's all-time leader in home runs (60) and RBIs (239). He also led the Panthers to the NAIA national championship as a freshman, winning MVP honors at the NAIA World Series and homering in the title game. He pitched just six innings in his first three years of college, but he became Birmingham-Southern's closer as senior and tied a school record with nine saves. In 2005, his first full season as a pitcher, Robertson averaged 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings and reached Triple-A briefly. His method of success, like his career path, has been unconventional. He throws an 88-92 mph sinker and a decent slider, and both pitches are very difficult to pick up. He turns to the side in his delivery, all but completely blocking his arm from the hitter's view, while a lightning-quick release adds to his deception. At 24, he's still a bit raw as a pitcher and needs to throw more strikes. He's expected to open 2006 in Double-A and could be a part of the Oakland bullpen in 2007 if his success continues.

Robertson broke into pro ball with a bang, leading the Arizona League with 13 saves while posting a 0.92 ERA. He also posted a 46-8 strikeout-walk ratio in 29 innings. But Robertson, a 31st-round pick, was very old by Rookie league standards at 22. While his age wasn't optimum, his stuff was. He showed three solid pitches, including a fastball that touched 92 mph. He's relatively new to pitching after being a two-way player at Birmingham-Southern, where he was the NAIA World Series MVP as a freshman third baseman.