Cody Roberts

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #274 prospect in 2018 draft
  A three-year starter for North Carolina behind the plate and a 38th-round draftee of the Marlins as a sophomore, Roberts is as defensively advanced as they come at the college level. An excellent receiver who routinely catches mid-90s velocity at UNC, Roberts' throwing arm earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scale, and he has above-average athleticism and versatility for a catcher. He's made several starts in right field for the Tar Heels this spring. Roberts' bat is his big question mark. At one point batting leadoff for UNC to start the season, Roberts cooled to a .277/.374/.391 line by season's end. The righthanded hitter doesn't project to hit for much power at the next level, but he makes decent contact, and with his defensive prowess, he just needs to hit enough to not be a liability. Roberts is a safe pick with a high floor as a backup catcher at the pro level. His bat will determine how much staying power he has.
• Ranked #408 prospect in 2017 draft
  An eligible sophomore, Roberts stands out defensively for his agility, plus arm strength and ability to handle the nasty slider of North Carolina ace J.B. Bukauskas. He uses his arm aggressively, backpicking runners frequently. His bat may be light to go out as a sophomore; he has led the Tar Heels in sacrifice bunts in both of his seasons. At 6-foot, 200 pounds, he has held up relatively well under a heavy catching workload.