Drew Robinson has one of the most inspirational stories in professional sports. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 4th round of the 2010 MLB Draft with whom he made his debut in 2017. Drew's first major league hit was a go-ahead home run in the Rangers’ 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees. His MLB career saw him bounce from Texas to St. Louis where Drew had to undergo Tommy John Surgery and was soon waived by the Cardinals.
As Drew battled through injury rehab, the beginning of the COVID pandemic, and everyday life, Drew's feelings of depression and self-doubt that he had been battling for years finally reached a tipping point. On April 16, 2020 to the shock of those that knew him, Drew attempted to take his own life. He had hidden his feelings so well that none of his closest friends and family would have ever guessed how he was feeling and what he was planning. This is where the Drew Robinson story was supposed to end, but Drew soon came to realize that it was just the beginning of another.
After surviving a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head that required 4 surgeries and left him without his right eye, Drew had a long road ahead. Simple everyday tasks became very difficult for Drew without the depth perception provided by two eyes. While recovering from the gunshot wound, Drew had lost over 30 lbs of muscle. But these obstacles wouldn't stop Drew. Drew was determined to play professional baseball once more.
Drew began working on implementing a routine to help him stay happy, healthy, and make his way back into professional baseball. Hours of hard work on the field, in the weight room, and through mental health practices such as journaling and meditation put drew on the road to realizing his goal. On May 6th, 2021, just 13 months after attempting to take his own life, Drew made his return to professional baseball with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. It took only 5 more days for him to hit his first home run, a chilling must-see moment.
Drew has since retired from playing in order to work in the San Francisco Giants Front Office as a Mental Health Advocate where he will work to create a comfortable atmosphere for players to share about their mental health struggles without fear of judgment. Drew now openly shares his battles and uses his platform to spread positivity and the power of vulnerability. He hopes that his story will inspire others to seek help before it is too late.
