Charles Robinson III Bio
Charles Robinson III (born December 14, 1994) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. A product of the University of Southern Mississippi program, Robinson has progressed through multiple major league organizations and reached the majors with the Cincinnati Reds before later joining the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Early Life and Background
Charles Robinson III was born in Danville, Illinois, and attended Danville High School, where he developed as a position player and catcher. Growing up in a family with a multi‑generational catching background, Robinson learned the fundamentals of the position from an early age and built the foundation that would carry him through college and into professional baseball.
Robinson continued his development at the University of Southern Mississippi, playing three seasons for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. After serving as a backup catcher in his first two seasons, he became the team’s primary catcher as a junior, earning first‑team All‑Conference USA honors after batting .288 with seven home runs and 44 runs batted in.
Path to Baseball
Robinson was selected by the Houston Astros in the 21st round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and signed to begin his professional career that year. He started in short‑season ball with the Tri‑City ValleyCats and advanced through the Astros’ minor league system with stops that included the Quad Cities River Bandits, Buies Creek Astros and the Corpus Christi Hooks at Double‑A.
Robinson’s minor league journey included a winter league stint with the Canberra Cavalry in the Australian Baseball League and the canceled 2020 minor league season due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, which interrupted the progress of many players. The combination of collegiate achievement and steady minor league work led to Robinson being selected in the minor league phase of the 2020 Rule 5 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, opening the door to his major league opportunities.
Charles Robinson III Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
After signing with the Houston Astros in 2016, Robinson made his professional debut with Tri‑City and spent the next seasons moving up the Astros’ system. In 2018 he played for the Buies Creek Astros at High‑A and produced seven home runs and 30 RBIs while in 2019 he reached Double‑A with the Corpus Christi Hooks, hitting seven home runs and driving in 36 runs across 103 games.
Robinson also sought additional playing time and development in winter ball, appearing with Canberra in the Australian Baseball League following the 2019 season. These experiences provided extended at‑bats and defensive repetitions that aided his growth behind the plate as he prepared for higher levels of professional competition.
Major League Breakthrough with the Cincinnati Reds (2022)
Robinson’s major league opportunity came after the Cincinnati Reds selected him in the 2020 minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He began 2022 in Double‑A with the Chattanooga Lookouts and later earned a promotion to Triple‑A Louisville before being added to Cincinnati’s major league roster in August 2022.
Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut on August 24, 2022, starting at catcher and recording one hit and a run scored in the game. On August 29, 2022, he hit his first career major league home run, a two‑run shot off St. Louis Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Those appearances marked Robinson’s initial major league contributions and provided defensive and offensive glimpses at the highest level.
Chicago White Sox Tenure (2024)
After re‑signing with the Reds on a minor league deal and posting strong Triple‑A numbers in 2023, Robinson signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in December 2023. The White Sox added him to their 40‑man roster in June 2024 and optioned him to Triple‑A Charlotte to manage roster control while retaining his services.
Robinson appeared in 26 games for the White Sox in 2024, working as a depth option behind the plate while also providing innings and at‑bats at Triple‑A Charlotte. His major league batting line with the White Sox reflected limited offensive opportunities at the big league level that season, while he continued to receive regular work in Triple‑A.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025–Present)
Robinson was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in December 2024 and began the 2025 season at Triple‑A Salt Lake, where he produced regular playing time and contributed offensively. After being designated for assignment by the Angels in late May 2025, Robinson was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 31, 2025, and subsequently cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple‑A Oklahoma City in early June.
During the 2025 season, Robinson spent significant time with the Oklahoma City Triple‑A club and was added to the Dodgers’ major league roster at times without recording extensive big league playing time. He ultimately appeared in a major league game for the Dodgers in September 2025, a limited appearance in which he reached on a fielder’s choice and scored a run. Robinson later elected free agency and re‑signed a minor league contract to return to the Dodgers organization in December 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Robinson profiles as a defense‑first catcher with steady receiving and game‑management skills developed through collegiate and minor league catching workloads. His strengths include pitch framing, throwing to bases and working with pitching staffs to manage game situations, while offensive production has shown periods of improvement particularly during extended Triple‑A playing time.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Robinson’s career include his selection to first‑team All‑Conference USA at Southern Miss, being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2016, his major league debut on August 24, 2022, and his first major league home run on August 29, 2022, off Miles Mikolas. Robinson’s ascent from a 21st‑round draft pick to a major league catcher underscores the incremental achievements through college and the minors.
Charles Robinson III Career Wins
Robinson’s verified major league offensive totals through June 28, 2026 include two home runs, six runs batted in and a .128 batting average. Those totals reflect cumulative major league plate appearances across his time with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Major League Highlights
Robinson’s first major league hit and run came in his debut on August 24, 2022, and his first major league home run followed five days later, a two‑run shot that provided a highlight moment in his initial big league stint. His most substantial offensive season in professional baseball came in Triple‑A in 2023 with Louisville, where he posted a .290/.356/.450 slash line with 13 home runs and 74 RBI across 101 games.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Robinson’s All‑Conference USA selection as a junior at Southern Miss stands out as a key amateur accomplishment. In the minor leagues he produced multiple seasons of meaningful offensive output, including the 2019 Double‑A season and the 2023 Triple‑A campaign that helped him return to major league consideration.
Charles Robinson III Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Robinson comes from a family with a catching lineage. His father, Charles Robinson Jr., played catcher in the minor leagues within the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs organizations, and his grandfather, Charles Robinson Sr., also played as a catcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. That family background provided early mentorship and exposure to the daily routines of professional catchers.
Personal Life
Public records indicate Robinson is American and from Danville, Illinois. He attended Danville High School before matriculating to the University of Southern Mississippi. Other personal details such as marital status and residence are not publicly documented in the supplied records.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a transitional year for Robinson, involving a trade to the Los Angeles Angels organization, Triple‑A assignment with Salt Lake, a designation for assignment and a claim by the Los Angeles Dodgers in late May. He spent most of the season contributing at Triple‑A Oklahoma City, where he logged regular playing time and provided depth for the Dodgers’ catching corps.
Robinson’s 2025 outline shows the role of a veteran minor league catcher and organizational depth piece who can be called to the majors when roster needs arise. The season reinforced Robinson’s profile as a defensively reliable catcher with the potential to provide occasional offensive contributions during extended opportunities at Triple‑A or in spot major league duty.