A native of Evanston, Illinois, Robinson attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In 1975, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Robinson was selected by the White Sox in the 19th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft. After a sparkling season as a relief pitcher for the Class AAppleton Foxes — 50 games pitched, a 10–3 win–loss record, with 17 saves, 121 strikeouts and a 1.72 earned run average, in 89 innings pitched — he made the 1979 ChiSox' opening day roster. But he was ineffective in two trials and 11 games with Chicago that season, losing his only decision and posting an ERA of 6.28. In between those stints, however, Robinson had a good season for the Triple-AIowa Oaks, winning 13 games in relief. Following Robinson’s success at Iowa with a strong 3½ months to begin, he was recalled to the ChiSox in July and pitched well in middle relief. In 15 games through the end of September, Robinson split two decisions and allowed only 26 hits in 35 innings pitched, with an ERA of 3.09. But in, he appeared in only 29 professional games, including four with the White Sox, to conclude his MLB career. However, Robinson's last appearance in the big leagues — on October 4 — was a memorable one. Entering the game in the ninth inning at Comiskey Park with the White Sox trailing the Minnesota Twins 12–9, Robinson pitched a scoreless inning. Then, when the White Sox rallied for four runs and a walk-off, 13–12 victory, Robinson was credited with the win. All told, in 30 MLB games and 53⅓ innings pitched, Robinson split four decisions, giving up 42 hits and 28 bases on balls, with 35 strikeouts, and a career ERA of 4.05. His MiLB playing career ended, following the season in the Pittsburgh Pirates' and Milwaukee Brewers' organizations.
Coaching career
Robinson coached collegiately at Northwestern University and the University of Missouri. Robinson spent 10 seasons coaching in the Chicago White Sox farm system. He served two seasons as the White Sox' bullpen coach and was also the pitching coach at Class A Peninsula of the Carolina League in 1987 and Class A Tampa in 1988. Robinson also served the White Sox as minor league pitching coordinator. Robinson joined the Astros organization in 1997 and was named the club's "Player Development Man of the Year" in 1998. He worked as their pitching coach in and, during Cecil Cooper's term as manager. Robinson was not retained by the Astros following the 2009 season. That October, he agreed to become a minor league pitching instructor for the Rays. Prior to the 2020 baseball season, Robinson assumed the title of "Director, Pitching Development".
