Chris Roberson

From BR Bullpen

Christopher William Roberson

Bats Both, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lbs.
School Feather River College, Contra Costa College
High School El Cerrito High School
Debut May 12, 2006
Born August 23, 1979 in Oakland, CA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Outfielder Chris Roberson, the son of an NBA player, was picked in the 9th round of the 2001 amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was initially assigned to the GCL Phillies and batted .248/.336/.323. Roberson hit .276/.377/.369 for the '02 Batavia Muckdogs. In 2003, Chris put up a .234/.331/.309 season for the Lakewood Blue Claws but began to exhibit some impressive speed - 59 steals in 75 tries. He led the South Atlantic League in steals that year and also had the most putouts (323) of any outfielder.

Roberson only stole 16 of 28 in 2004 for the Clearwater Threshers while hitting .307/.371/.473. He made the Florida State League All-Star team as a utility outfielder. He fractured his left leg in July and missed the rest of the year. In '05, Chris continued to advance one level per year and hit .311/.365/.465 with 34 steals in 48 tries for the Reading Phillies. He hit 15 homers and scored 90 runs, but struck out 112 times. His 320 putouts led Eastern League outfielders and he paced the EL in runs (90), at-bats (553) and hits (172). He was third in the EL in average behind Randy Ruiz and Mike Jacobs and made the league All-Star team. He was named the EL Rookie of the Year.

Roberson has spent most of 2006 with the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons. As of August 7, he is hitting .293/.350/.367 with 25 steals in 34 tries but just 1 homer. He also got his first major-league time with the 2006 Phillies, batting .174/.174/.174 in 23 AB.

Primary sources: 2002-2006 Baseball Almanacs