Butler BlueSox managing partner and ownership group member William “Wink” Robinson has become part of the restructuring of the Prospect League administration.

Robinson was named president of the 12-team collegiate baseball circuit in January.

“I was serving as vice-president before that, then as interim president for three or four months,” Robinson said. “It was pretty much a natural progression.”

Robinson replaced Bryan Wickline, who was elected commissioner of the league following the departure of Dave Chase.

Chase, who spent five years as Prospect League commissioner, moved on to become general manager of the new Sussex County (N.J.) Miners franchise of the Can-Am Association, an independent league.

While the Prospect League commissioner oversees the entire league and handles administrative work such as player contracts, Robinson’s duties are primarily being in charge of the league’s 12-person board of directors.

“There’s one representative for each of the 12 teams,” Robinson said. “Mainly, I have to keep everyone on the same page, moving in the right direction ... and we are.”

Entering its seventh season, the Prospect League has expanded to 12 teams in 2015 with the addition of Kokomo (Ind.), which will play in the Western Division and balance out the league schedule.

Robinson said further expansion “is very realistic” for 2016.

“I can see us adding two more teams by then,” he said. “We have no formal bids, but we do have inquiries.”

Wickline doesn’t see the expansion stopping there.

“There is no ceiling in terms of number of teams,” Wickline said. “This league has potential for tremendous growth.”

Last summer, more than 300,000 people attended Prospect League games. Its 12 teams are spread across seven states.

“If you look at the league’s map, we could use a team in eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia,” Robinson said. “There are possible suitors in those regions.”

Wickline referred to the BlueSox as “a model franchise”in the league.

“They do it right,” he said. “They take care of the players and the fans. They run a first-class operation. They are what many of our other franchises aspire to be.

“Wink is well respected throughout the league. His vision for the future of our league will be invaluable in his leadership role.”

Robinson will be involved in promoting the league in towns where any new franchises may emerge.

“With any new team, it has to make sense for us,” Wickline said. “Our ballpark facilities throughout the league are tremendous and we have solid ownership groups.”

For the first time ever, the Prospect League had a booth at the annual American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month.

Thousands of coaches from all levels of college baseball attended the four-day event.

“It was incredible, the number of coaches who came up to me expressing appreciation for the way the BlueSox organization treated their players when they were in Butler,” Robison said. “That was very rewarding.

“Other coaches inquired as to how to get their players involved in the league. We were busy down there. The amount of interest in our league was very encouraging.”