Brian Roberts Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Brian Michael Roberts
Born 10/09/1977 in Durham, NC
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School South Carolina
Debut 06/14/2001
Drafted in the C round (50th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 1999 (signed for $650,000).

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A handsome payoff is at hand for SS Brian Roberts, a tireless worker and self-made player. He wasn't recruited out of high school by any college except North Carolina, where his father Mike coached. He starred there for two years and continued his outstanding play this spring at South Carolina, where he transferred after his father was forced out at UNC. Roberts' strengths are his intangibles. He has outstanding instincts in the field and on the bases. He swings the bat well from both sides and broke the Southeastern Conference record for stolen bases, set a year ago by South Carolina's Mike Curry. He led the nation by a wide margin. Roberts is unusually strong for his size. He will need to put more balls on the ground to better use his speed in pro ball. Though he has worked hard to make himself a quality shortstop, not everyone sees him at that position. He made more believers this spring by showing plus arm strength.

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Roberts missed the first half of the 2000 season after having bone chips removed from his elbow, but he played well at Frederick when he returned. He felt a twinge in the elbow while playing in the Arizona Fall League, so the Orioles shut him down for the year. Roberts, the son of former North Carolina coach Mike Roberts, epitomizes the term "baseball player." He has great instincts for the game and a strong desire to reach the big leagues. His tools aren't overwhelming, but the package is greater than the sum of its parts. He's smooth in the field and has a good approach to hitting. The elbow injury raises questions about Roberts' arm, which might have been his best tool. He likely was destined to move over to second base anyway. His gaudy stolen-base numbers in college haven't translated in professional ball yet. The Orioles compare Roberts to Mike Bordick, but he needs to stay healthy and get more at-bats to see if that comparison is apt. Assuming his elbow is sound, he'll get the chance to move up to Double-A in the spring.

Like most of the Orioles' top prospects, Roberts had to be placed on the fast track in 2001. But he held his own in Baltimore and is in line to succeed Mike Bordick as the Orioles' starting shortstop after the 2002 season. Roberts opened the year at Double-A Bowie, moved to Rochester and then made his major league debut when Bordick was injured. Though error-prone at every stop, Roberts provided some speed for the Orioles out of the No. 2 slot. He'll need to draw more walks to justify batting high in the order. Some managers said Roberts' lack of arm strength may force a move to second base, but Jerry Hairston already gives Baltimore a young, promising option there. With Bordick under contract for another season, Roberts could return to Rochester for part of 2002. "He's a baseball player is what he is," Etchebarren said. "He needs to get 500 at-bats here next year and then he can play in the big leagues when Bordick is gone. That would be ideal if that happened."