The Reds have selected the contract of catcher Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Louisville, per a club announcement. Fellow backstop Aramis Garcia was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Robinson, 27, will be making his Major League debut if he gets into tonight’s Field of Dreams game against the Cubs. That’s far from a given, as Cincinnati has a pair of catchers on the roster already: rookie Michael Papierski and veteran Austin Romine. Robinson has been tabbed as the Reds’ 27th man for tonight’s game — both teams are permitted one extra player — so it could be a brief stay on the roster for him.
Originally selected by the Astros in the 21st round of the 2016 draft, Robinson made his way to the Reds organization in the minor league phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. Robinson posted solid numbers at the Double-A level in 2021-22 and ascended to the Triple-A ranks for the first time in his career earlier this summer. Overall, he’s hitting a combined .263/.318/.403 in 201 plate appearances this season. He’s connected on five homers, nine doubles and a triple while also going 4-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Defensively, he’s caught 26% of runners who’ve attempted to steal against him this season and carries a hefty 34% caught-stealing rate across parts of six minor league seasons.
Garcia landed on the injured list last month with a finger injury, and while x-rays initially came back negative, an additional set of scans eventually revealed a fracture. He could technically still return in the middle of next month — his original IL placement came on July 7 — but the team has yet to provide a formal timetable or say whether he’s expected to make it back this season.
He’s in the majors now. We can’t call his Chuck? Isn’t time to grow ^ already? Smh
From the Reds media guide: Chuckie’s favorite movies are Child’s Play, Child’s Play 2, and Child’s Play 4.
Fun fact about Child’s Play. The original actor chosen to play and voice Chucky was John Lithgow, but he turned it down last minute.
Bonus fact, Simon Stokes wrote a theme song for the credits of the original film but it was cut during editing. You can find it on YouTube by searching Simon Stokes Chucky Song.
I’ll send a quick memo to Chuckie, and also to every Jimmy, Billy, Willie/Willy, etc. who’s played in the Majors, voicing your concern.
sounds good. I’ll also send text to Markus Lynn Betts
Sir. Mr. Charles Robinson The Fourth.
Joeys Votto and Gallo says shut up.
Joeys or Joesh?
Or we could call him the name he chooses to go by
Everyone spent 15+ years calling a dude named Covelli by the nickname “Coco” Crisp
Yet you’re worried about a guy that goes by Chuckie?
Not to mention two “Boog”‘s, Two “Pudge”‘s, a “Pee Wee”, a “Pokey”, a “Gookie”, and even a “Pork Chop”. Who cares what the players want to call themselves as long as they produce
Don’t forget Rusty Kuntz, who was a pretty good player.
Never waste a top 3 round pick on a catcher. Reds do every draft yet have brought in a 1/2 dozen journeymen this season to catch and bat 9th.
Not all top-3 round catchers are bad picks, but this comment stings as the Angels took Taylor Ward (#26 overall) and Matt Thaiss (#16 overall) in back-to-back 1st rounds a few years back
Of course looking at the Angels standings since then, clearly they knew what they were doing smh
Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, Charles Johnson, Jason Varitek, Dale Murphy, Mike Scioscia, Dan Wilson, Mike Lieberthal, Ray Fosse, Ron Karkovice, Craig Biggio, Jason Kendall, B.J. Surhoff and several others would beg to differ
Tyler Stephenson?
Years from now, wonder how many players’ one and only MLB appearance will be because of the 27th-man rule?
While practical on the MLB side of things, how many bring up their top prospects for the single day?
Not to mention players who only got their big league appearances as covid replacements.
BBREF has a list of one-game MLB players, and many sites have lists of “phantom ballplayers”, guys who were promoted during a season but never made a MLB appearance. I’d recommend reading some of these lists, they are interesting.
… He’ll be only the third Charles Robinson in MLB in 100 years!
With such a “common” name, this is an incredible statistic.
When I see Charles Robinson, I remember the actor who played Mac on “Night Court”, and I’m sad to report that he passed away last year.
MAC!!
He better turn out to be a HOF I’ve been collecting his cards based on his name alone!!
I think I’m still bitter about the Reds trading Castillo to the Mariners. Are Cincy fans happy about what they received back? I feel Peraza, Sweeney, Waldichuk and Warren would of been a better haul for the Reds. I know Marte is a stud prospect though.
Hi, I’m Chuckie. Wanna play?
I wonder if there’s a ball pit at his favorite restaurant?
Robinson will be 7th catcher who’s been on the Reds roster this season. Not counting Kyle Farmer, or Sandy Leon who was on a minors contract then traded.
How cool would it be if the Field of Dreams game ended up being his only game. There couldn’t be a better modern Moonlight Graham story.
Actually Chuckie is the 4th Charles Robinson in the family. He was a student at Danville (IL) when I taught there. His great grandfather was nicknamed “Kag” and cooked up the best ribs in town. Although the original store is gone, they still cook in a panel truck that goes from place to place.
Love that name. Great baseball name!
Followed him since the Astros drafted him. Only black catcher in pro ball that I know of. Glad he made it all the way.
There are a couple in minors a good prospect in AA on penicola (marlins)
The first African American at catcher in MLB since Charles Johnson more than 25 yrs ago
First, let me get my flame retardant outfit on.
Ok.
Bruce Maxwell.
Well I mean you’re not wrong.