Daniel Robert collapsed following a bullpen session this morning, after the Phillies right-hander suffered his second cardiac event in the last five months. As the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Marcus Hayes writes, Robert had just completed his throwing session when he fell to the ground, with trainers and medical staff immediately at his side to monitor the situation.
Robert reportedly remained consciousness for around five minutes before leaving the field under his own power. He was taken to a local hospital for further testing and a check of his implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and Robert was released from the hospital later that day.
Last Halloween, a similar incident occurred when Robert had finished his final bullpen session of the 2025 campaign, and and Robert might have lost his life if the Phillies training staff hadn’t quickly acted by using CPR and a defibrillator. Robert had the ICD implanted in his chest in the aftermath of that event, and today marked his first bullpen session of the spring.
It is anyone’s guess as to when Robert might get back onto a mound, since his condition will surely be heavily re-evaluated by doctors and the team’s own medical staff. It is fair to wonder if Robert’s career could be in jeopardy if there is no way to properly manage what now looks like a recurring health situation.
The 31-year-old Robert was a 21st-round pick for the Rangers in the 2017 draft, and he made his big league debut with Texas by throwing 5 2/3 relief innings during the 2024 season. Philadelphia acquired Robert in a trade last May, and he posted a 4.15 ERA, 25.4% strikeout rate, and 16.9% walk rate across 13 innings and 15 appearances for his new club before his season was prematurely ended by a forearm strain. He was cut loose by the Phillies in November at the non-tender deadline but re-signed in February to a minor league contract.
