Robbie Ross

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2009
A-:  4-4-0, 2.66 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 74.1 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 9.2 K/9

After being drafted, Ross signed at the deadline and so didn’t appear in games in 2008.  He worked out of the rotation in 2009 in the college-level Northwest League and performed very well.  Baseball America named him the Rangers’ seventh best prospect after the season.

2010
A:  8-7-0, 2.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 94.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 5.9 K/9
A+:  4-4-0, 5.37 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 52.0 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

Texas sent Ross to low A to open the season and he made 16 starts there, with very good results apart from a low K rate.  He had more trouble in 11 starts after a promotion to the high-offense California League, although he did sharply increase his K rate.  BA ranked him 19th in the Rangers’ system after the season.

2011
A+:  9-4-0, 2.26 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 123.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.2 K/9
AA:  1-1-0, 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 1.2 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

Ross stayed in high A for most of the season, although this time it was the Carolina League.  He put up strong numbers there and again in six starts in AA.  BA ranked him 14th in the Rangers’ system.

2012
MLB:  6-0-0, 2.22 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 65.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

Ross made the Rangers’ staff to start the season and spent all year in the team’s bullpen, despite having pitched almost exclusively as a starter in the minors.  He had a successful season, holding opponents to a .624 OPS in 58 games, although his K rate was low.

2013
MLB:  4-2-0, 3.03 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 62.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

Ross appeared in 65 games for the Rangers and improved his K rate, although he also got hit a little harder.

2014
AAA:  5-4-0, 4.33 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 60.1 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
MLB:  3-6-0, 6.20 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 78.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Texas tried moving Ross to a starting role and he struggled badly through mid-June, when they sent him to AAA.  He continued starting there, with mediocre results, and finally moved back to a relief role in the majors in September.  After the season, the Rangers traded him to Boston.

2015
AAA:  0-0-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
MLB:  0-2-6, 3.86 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 60.2 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 7.9 K/9

The Red Sox moved Ross back to the bullpen and he pitched well, although he spent a little time in AAA in May and June.

2016
MLB:  3-2-0, 3.25 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 55.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

Ross spent the season with the Red Sox and pitched well, including a career-high K rate.  He got into 54 games.  Although it hasn’t been a career trend, he was extremely tough on left-handed batters, holding them to a 188/320/225 line.  Right-handers had a 254/333/341 line.

2017
AAA:  1-0-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 10.5 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 7.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

The Red Sox optioned Ross to AAA briefly in April and then again in May, but they rescinded the latter option and put Ross on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.  He didn’t return and also had back surgery later in the year.  After the season, Boston outrighted him to AAA; he declined the assignment and became a free agent.

2018
A:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  0-2-0, 10.97 ERA, 2.72 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 14.3 BB/9, 9.3 K/9

The White Sox signed Ross to a minor league deal during spring training.  He missed a month starting in mid-May and, in the end, appeared in only 11 AAA games.  He couldn’t throw strikes and the Sox released him in June.

Ross’ chances of contributing to the Pirates will depend on whether he can get back to his 2016 form.  It’s not clear whether his 2018 problems were due to continuing health issues.