Luke Robertson
#14 Luke Robertson, Pitching Coach
The longest tenured member of the Wingnuts’ staff, Robertson enters his fourth season as the team’s Pitching Coach. Under Robertson’s guidance, the Wingnuts have led the American Association in ERA each of the last two seasons (3.52 in 2009, 4.05 in 2010). During the 2009 season, Wingnuts pitchers also ranked first by healthy margins in fewest hits allowed (836), fewest walks (319), and fewest home runs (38). Wingnuts’ starters earned a league-leading seven complete games that year, including a no-hitter by Will Savage on June 23rd at Sioux City. During the offseason, Savage was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Overall, the Wingnuts’ starting pitchers went a combined 42-26 with a paltry 3.37 ERA.
In addition to leading the league in ERA in 2010, Wingnuts hurlers also led the American Association with 693 strikeouts, 10 shy of the league’s team record. The staff again allowed the fewest hits (866), produced the most complete games (seven), and ranked second in fewest walks allowed (313). Two of Robertson’s pitchers were also signed by Major League organizations mid-season. Young right-hander Ben Graham was purchased by the Washington Nationals in June, while left-handed closer Justin Dowdy was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays in August. Left-hander Dustin Pease, who set a league record in 2010 with 54 appearances, was signed by the San Diego Padres in the offseason. Also during the 2010 offseason, right-hander Cephas Howard was purchased by the Texas Rangers.
During Wichita’s inaugural season in 2008, Robertson’s staff finished sixth in the American Association with a 4.34 ERA and allowed the third fewest hits.
A former 27th round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999, Robertson spent three seasons in the Oakland Athletics organization, compiling a 12-12 record and striking out 240 hitters in 251.1 innings pitched. Robertson began his career in 2002 with the Modesto A’s of the hitter-friendly California League, and struck out 144 batters over the course of 121.0 IP, while walking just 34. Robertson struck out 10 or more batters five different times in 2002.
In 2003, Robertson spent the majority of the season in Modesto, and also earned a call to the Athletics’ AAA affiliate in Sacramento. Robertson spent much of 2004 rehabbing a knee injury that ultimately ended his career, but still managed to post a 3.00 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 30.0 IP between three levels of the Athletics’ system.
Robertson played his college ball at Kansas State University and Butler County Community College. Robertson was 4-1 for Butler with a 3.27 ERA in 1999. He played varsity baseball at Maize High School for four years, earning first-team All-State honors as an outfielder his junior season. He also lettered four years in football and three in basketball at Maize.
