Robbie Ross was on top of the world as a rookie in 2012 — a longshot to make the club out of spring training who ended up vaulting himself into the upper echelon of big-league relief pitchers with a 6-0 record and a 2.22 ERA in 65 innings.
Last season, it was mainly more of the same though he got hit a little harder, finishing the year with a 3.03 ERA in 62 1/3 innings. Then, this spring he was stretched out as a starter and put into the starting rotation due to injuries and necessity.
For a short time he was pretty good. Then, things turned sour in a hurry and he was put back in the bullpen with hopes he could be better in a more familiar role. That didn't happen, and Ross was sent back to Triple-A to work out his kinks.
So far, that hasn't happened either.
He finished his 18 games (nine starts) with a 5.61 ERA, and it's only gotten worse in Round Rock, where he's been working as a starter.
On Wednesday in his third start with Round Rock, Ross was rocked for nine runs in 2 2/3 innings running his Round Rock totals to a 10.24 ERA in 13 2/3 innings in his four appearances.