Drafted in the 5th round (159th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2016 (signed for $400,000).
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Roberts has a good chance of becoming the first player drafted out of Henry Ford (Mich.) CC since 2001 (Doug Brooks, Indians, 48th round) and he's one of the more prominent pop-up players of this year's draft class. Roberts didn't even pitch as a high school senior and he was a 78-82 mph lefty as a high school junior. He was better, but not much better as a freshman in 2015, but after gaining weight, he's shown a low-90s fastball that has touched 96 this season. He also throws a low-80s slider that is rudimentary at best. A team picking Roberts is betting that they can take an extremely raw pitcher with a fast arm and turn him into something with quality instruction--Roberts hasn't had a pitching coach yet in his playing career. Roberts doesn't repeat his delivery well, his control is near the bottom of the scale on some days, and his velocity varies by the outing. But there are few 6-foot-6 lefties who can throw 95, so teams may be interesting in trying to woo him away from his Central Michigan commitment.
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Draft Prospects
Roberts has a good chance of becoming the first player drafted out of Henry Ford (Mich.) CC since 2001 (Doug Brooks, Indians, 48th round) and he's one of the more prominent pop-up players of this year's draft class. Roberts didn't even pitch as a high school senior and he was a 78-82 mph lefty as a high school junior. He was better, but not much better as a freshman in 2015, but after gaining weight, he's shown a low-90s fastball that has touched 96 this season. He also throws a low-80s slider that is rudimentary at best. A team picking Roberts is betting that they can take an extremely raw pitcher with a fast arm and turn him into something with quality instruction--Roberts hasn't had a pitching coach yet in his playing career. Roberts doesn't repeat his delivery well, his control is near the bottom of the scale on some days, and his velocity varies by the outing. But there are few 6-foot-6 lefties who can throw 95, so teams may be interesting in trying to woo him away from his Central Michigan commitment.
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