Brett Robinson didn't impress enough in college to get drafted. But, after signing as a free agent in 1987, he soon impressed his short-season manager Tom Spencer, according to The Bloomington Pantagraph.
"We really got a super bonus when we signed him because he wasn't drafted," Spencer told The Pantagraph that August. "He's been invited to the Winter Instructional League and only the top prospects go there."
Robinson turned in a 2.40 ERA for Geneva that year, over 18 outings 14 starts. He eventually impressed enough to make AA. He didn't make it higher.
Robinson's career began that year in 1987, signed by the Cubs as a free agent out of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill.
Robinson started with the Cubs at Geneva and turned in that 2.40 ERA. He then moved practically back home to single-A Peoria.
"No doubt about it," Robinson told The Pantagraph upon his assignment to Peoria, "I was hoping it would turn out this way."
Robinson stayed in Peoria two seasons, 1988 and 1989. He went 9-6 his first year there and 15-9 his second.
He spoke to The Decatur Herald and Review in July 1988 about his prospects for the bigs, including his prospects of being the first from his hometown of Bethany to make the majors.
"It will be hard," Robinson told The Herald and Review. "I mean, I know the odds."
Robinson moved to AA Charlotte and high-A Winston-Salem for 1990. He went 5-6 in 21 outings, 13 starts at Charlotte, with a 3.99 ERA. He then is credited as returning four years later for two final games at independent Champaign-Urbana to end his career.
- Bloomington Pantagraph, Aug. 23, 1987: Brett Robinson bonus for Cubs farm team
- Bloomington Pantagraph, April 8, 1988: Cubs make Robinson's day with assignment to Peoria
- Decatur Herald and Review, July 6, 1988: Robinson waits for big chance
Players/Coaches Featured:3,597
Made the Majors:1,246-34.6%
Never Made Majors:2,351-65.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:519
10+ Seasons in the Minors:305
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