Thread: Nate Roberts on his AFL season

Following this year's championship game in the Arizona Fall League, Twins prospect Nate Roberts, who led the league in average (.446), on-base percentage (.565) and slugging (.662), took time to answer some of Baseball America's question why he had such an incredible season:

"I was definitely seeing the ball well," Roberts said. "I played the last two years in Beloit and some of the ballparks are kind of difficult to see. Here, great batters eyes, great places to hit, and pitchers throw strikes here, so I was able to see a lot of strikes and hit a lot of strikes. The ball just happened to drop for me quite a bit here."

If Roberts follows the standard promotion plan, he will likely experience some offensive decline next season in the Florida State League where the humidity and larger ballparks subdue power. Still, his on-base skills are impressive. His .433 OBP led the Midwest League (thanks, in part, to a league-leading 23 hit-by-pitches) and should be a solid foundation for going forward.

To date, there is little video of Roberts available to me to properly breakdown his mechanics but I am eager to see more.

a relatively high draft pick (5th round) who's spent 2 yrs in Low A and then becoming the AFL MVP.....if MN has any player who is ready to at least attempt to skip High A, its Roberts who will be 24 already next season....but they wont & after the inevitable struggles next yr, Twins still wont know what they have in Roberts

competing against AA and AAA players in the AFL............. the twins' brain trust has to be paying attention, right?

I'd be shocked if Roberts goes to Ft. Myers next year instead of skipping and going to New Britain. As we've talked about here many times... I generally don't worry about guys not being called up fast enough, but Roberts could quickly become the offensive-version of Anthony Slama.

I'd be shocked if Roberts goes to Ft. Myers next year instead of skipping and going to New Britain.

At his age and his track record, he's certainly earned the right to skip High A.

Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

I'd be shocked if Roberts goes to Ft. Myers next year instead of skipping and going to New Britain. As we've talked about here many times... I generally don't worry about guys not being called up fast enough, but Roberts could quickly become the offensive-version of Anthony Slama.

opinion or have you heard talk?

He kind of reminds me of Michael Restovich.. Not a lot of pedigree, but gets the job done... Given the outfield depth in the system, I kind of wonder if it's best for him to build up some value and get traded.

There is no reason not to skip FTM altogether and promote Roberts to New Britain. He belonged in FTM all of this year anyway. I think that a Roberts-Morales-Ortiz outfield in New Britain makes a lot of sense. Those are the prospects so there is NO NEED FOR FILLER older "veterans" involved anywhere.

Originally Posted by Shane Wahl

There is no reason not to skip FTM altogether and promote Roberts to New Britain. He belonged in FTM all of this year anyway. I think that a Roberts-Morales-Ortiz outfield in New Britain makes a lot of sense. Those are the prospects so there is NO NEED FOR FILLER older "veterans" involved anywhere.

I agree 100%. Get Angel Morales out of Ft Myers & see if there is anything there. I personally havent seen anything but several players have significantly jumped their numers in New Brit over Florida.
Problem is.....Terry Ryan has strongly hinted that Oswaldo Arcia is gonna start the year in New Brit & the organization hasnt said yet that Joe Benson will be in ROC (reason I think he will be dealt). ROC has Bigley, Dinkelman, Ramirez, Hermann on occasion & Hicks in the AAA outfield WITHOUT Benson/Arcia

Roberts had an amazing fall but long term we have to wonder where he would play.
He is not fast enough for CF. He does not have the power needed for a corner spot.

He is a good hitter with great on base skills. But put him in FM next year for half a season and see how he does. I wish he could learn to play MI.

Originally Posted by Parker Hageman

I'd be shocked if Roberts goes to Ft. Myers next year instead of skipping and going to New Britain.

At his age and his track record, he's certainly earned the right to skip High A.

Considering that Ft. Myers has been a difficult location for recent hitting prospects like Morales, Hicks, and Herrmann (2010), it might end up being better to skip that bump in the road for New Britain. I'm going to assume NBR will be a hitter's league next year too. If he can do well enough in New Britain too, maybe there is a chance he goes to Rochester. The Twins really haven't been challenging Roberts and I'd like to see them do so.