Former Harlem star gets pro shot in Frontier League
The Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League signed former Harlem star Drake Robison Tuesday.
Windy City plays its games in Crestwood, near Orland Park, in South Chicago. Drake, a right-handed pitcher, is scheduled to start Friday night.
Robison went 11-8 over from 2010-2012 for Harlem with 171 strikeouts in 138.2 innings. In college, he was 15-4 in two seasons at Iowa Western Community College, then 4-3 over two seasons with Mississippi State and Iowa.
Robison joins Hononegah graduate Jake Lanning in the Frontier League. Lanning spent last season in the Atlanta Braves farm system as an infielder. This season, he's trying to revive his career as a pitcher for the Traverse City Beach Bums. Lanning has appeared in 20 games, going 0-3 with 9 saves as the Beach Bums closer.
The Frontier League was formed in 1993 and is the longest running independent league. Players must be under the age of 27.
With his start Friday, Robison will be the third Harlem player to play in the minor leagues, following Tom Foust and Nick Shields.