Phillies reliever Daniel Robert, who almost died last fall, has another medical scare at spring training
It's the second time in less than five months he has exited a bullpen session because of a cardiac event.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — On Halloween, the Phillies witnessed a terrifying event. Right-handed reliever Daniel Robert, throwing his last bullpen session before going home for the offseason, collapsed on the mound. He passed out.
Phillies medical trainers administered CPR and used a defibrillator to save his life.
On Sunday morning, the Phillies experienced another, almost identical terrifying event.
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Robert, 31, whom the Phillies had re-signed last month to a minor-league deal, was throwing his first bullpen session of the spring; a series of tests to clear him for a return to baseball had delayed his offseason program. To Robert’s right, rookie phenom Andrew Painter was throwing his own bullpen session. Manager Rob Thomson looked on from behind Robert’s left shoulder.
Suddenly, after throwing a pitch, Robert staggered off the mound, appeared to clutch his chest and moan or grunt. He wound up about 20 feet toward home plate. He fell to one knee and stayed there for a few seconds. He tried to rise, but his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto his back.
That’s when medical trainers and coaching staff rushed to his side, one carrying a mobile defibrillator. Robert lay prostrate for about five minutes as teammates left the scene and as onlookers were ushered away from the site and emergency vehicles arrived.
A Phillies spokesperson confirmed Daniel had another cardiac event on the mound. His implantable cardioverter defibrillator was triggered as he was coming off the mound, but he was stable and alert and was taken to the local hospital to have the device data reviewed.
Eventually, Robert was able to rise and walk under his own power up a small flight of stairs into the players’ parking lot. He never appeared to lose consciousness and appeared communicative for the entire episode.
“Seeing him walk off was definitely a good sign,” Painter said. “He said he felt good during the bullpen and felt good before he left.”
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The fallout from this event might be dire for Robert’s health and career. He spent most of 2025 at triple A, though he did appear in 15 games for the Phillies last season. He re-signed with the Phils in part, he said, because he felt so indebted to them as they acted so quickly and saved his life.
Despite his late start, Robert had been progressing normally through the spring, and he was in good spirits Sunday morning in the clubhouse. That’s normal, too, said Painter, who became well acquainted with Robert when they pitched for triple-A Lehigh Valley.
“One of the friendliest guys, super positive, high energy,” Painter said. “He’s a good guy to be around, for sure.”
Now, of course, Robert’s future is in doubt.