University of North Carolina Athletics
Cody Roberts
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: More Than Just An Arm
June 9, 2018 | Baseball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Cody Roberts knew he probably shouldn't be there Friday, sitting at a podium inside the Boshamer Stadium player's lounge. Almost four weeks ago, few people imagined he would be.
Instead, most North Carolina baseball fans assumed Roberts would still be sidelined after a foul ball struck him in the groin area on May 13 against Duke. Roberts, playing catcher when he sustained the injury, underwent surgery a few hours later. His recovery, doctors said, would take about 3-4 weeks. But given his age (21), they also said he could potentially recuperate quicker.
Roberts said that seemed possible just a few days after his surgery. Then came the doubts.
"A week into it," he said, "I'm like, 'Alright, this isn't getting any better. This might actually be a serious timeframe.'"
Early on, Roberts realized he wouldn't be ready for the ACC Tournament, held May 22-27. But his concerns about returning for NCAA Tournament play steadily grew.
Those worries subsided, though, shortly after the ACC Tournament. He suddenly started feeling better. And about four days earlier than expected, he returned to UNC Hospitals for a follow-up appointment. Doctors cleared him then.
Upon receiving that clearance, Mike Fox immediately penciled Roberts back into the starting lineup. He knew the Tar Heels needed Roberts. And in all three games of last weekend's Chapel Hill Regional, Roberts showed why, flashing his defensive prowess in right field and at catcher.
But in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional against Stetson, Roberts' greatest contributions came with his bat.
Roberts' first-inning double led to a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1. Neither team scored over the next three innings. Then on a 2-2 pitch from Stetson's Logan Gilbert, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Roberts hit a three-run home run over the left-field wall in the fifth, handing UNC all the momentum it needed.
The Tar Heels went on to win 7-4, pulling them within one victory of returning to the College World Series for the first time since 2013. And joining Fox, Michael Busch and Cooper Criswell for the postgame press conference, Roberts knew he probably shouldn't be there.
"Having that injury was tough," Roberts said. "But we have good doctors here, and we stayed on top of everything, and I was able to recover pretty quickly. So to be able to come back and be a part of that regional and win it obviously was pretty awesome. And then to help my team win today was a pretty cool experience."
The stage might have been larger, the spotlight even bigger. Yet Roberts' stellar performance Friday was just another example of how integral he's been to Carolina over the last three years.
Striving to grow
It began with pots and pans, occasionally a few balls. But no matter what objects Roberts got his hands on as a child, he always threw them.
So it only seems appropriate that his right throwing arm, one that earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale according to Baseball America, is what scouts, fans and Roberts' teammates always praise when talking about him.
One could point to his family's athletic background as a reason for his arm strength. His older brother, Sam, played football and baseball at Birmingham Southern. His father, Scott, was a linebacker at Wake Forest.
But it's also something Roberts developed.
"A lot of people are like, 'You have such a gifted arm,'" he said. "I do, and I know I do; I'm very thankful for it. But at the same time, it's something I work a lot on, as well. I'm just constantly trying to make it better and see how hard I can throw, I guess."
Roberts recognizes his arm's importance. Yet hearing compliments about it for a majority of his life and typically few about other aspects of his game, he's always strived to grow as a player.
That's been especially true at UNC.
Despite playing catcher since he was 9, Roberts said he played outfield and third base as a freshman and sophomore at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Ga. He played catcher, outfield, shortstop and pitcher during the summers. But coming to Carolina, which he committed to just two weeks before his senior year, allowed him to hone his catching skills.
Roberts said his biggest challenge as a freshman was receiving pitches. Catching pitchers such as J.B. Bukauskas and Zac Gallen, among others, accelerated that learning curve.
"That was the biggest adjustment was being able to do what I did with pitchers who were throwing 85 with ones who were now throwing 98," Roberts said. "I think blocking was tough, too. Just everything was quicker; that was basically the biggest step."
Eventually, he acclimated. Over 100 starts at catcher across his freshman and sophomore seasons certainly helped that. And in his three seasons, he's also improved at the plate.
As a junior, Roberts owns a .276/.376/.402 slash line, the best of his career. He's also set career highs for hits (55), runs (47), home runs (5) and RBIs (37) in 54 games, fewer than he played as a freshman or sophomore. Fox has inserted Roberts into almost every spot in the batting order. That included a successful stint at leadoff.
"I've just worked a lot in the offseason and tried to carry that into this season," said Roberts, who leads the team with six sacrifice bunts. "I didn't have the greatest offensive year, but I feel I've definitely improved a lot."
Still, Roberts' arm draws most of the attention. He's thrown out 45.8 percent of would-be base stealers (29-of-64) during his career. This season, he's caught 7-of-14.
But most of this year, Roberts' throws have come from right field.
'Extremely unselfish'
Playing for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League last summer, Roberts found himself in a three-man rotation at catcher, along with Baylor's Shea Langeliers and Manhattan College's Fabian Pena.
Every third game, Roberts caught. The rest he spent in the outfield, granting him more at-bats.
By the time Roberts returned to Chapel Hill for the fall semester, he said UNC's coaches had heard he'd been playing outfield. They asked him about it. And he told them not only of his summer outfield experience, but of playing the position growing up.
When fall practice began, the coaches experimented with Roberts in the outfield. He showed them more than enough.
Of Roberts' 54 starts this season, 30 have come in right field. Twenty-four have still been at catcher. But three times he's started behind the plate and moved to right field. He's also made two appearances in center.
"I've just tried to take as many reps and get as comfortable as I can out there because it seemed like early on in the season that was going to be something they needed me to do," Roberts said. "It was just a way I could still help the team without having to be a designated hitter or completely out of the lineup if I wasn't catching that day."
Roberts' move to the outfield also allowed Brandon Martorano to receive more playing time. That's benefited the Tar Heels, as Martorano ranks second on the team in home runs (9) and third in slugging percentage (.484). He's also thrown out 10 would-be base stealers.
Even in the outfield, Roberts has managed to shut down opponents' running games. The most recent examples of that came last weekend.
Against North Carolina A&T last Friday, Roberts caught a line drive in the first inning and turned it into an inning-ending double play by picking off the runner at first base. Then on Sunday, in the top of the third inning, he threw out a Houston batter who tried to stretch a single into a double. That play came after the Cougars' pushed their lead to 3-1 on a home run in the previous at-bat. UNC answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame.
"When he threw that kid out at second," said Martorano, referencing the Houston game, "I promise I was literally saying, 'Please run, please run, please run to second base.' For Cody to throw that guy out there in that spot was absolutely unbelievable.
"We all have that trust in him that if any runner is stupid enough to run on him, he'll get an out for the team. He has an immense impact for us all over the field."
Roberts could have hesitated about playing in the outfield. But he never did. And that impresses Fox as much as Roberts' development at the position.
"I'd hate to say he's our best outfielder, but he's right up there," Fox said. "It just shows his athleticism and his ability to adjust. His arm has always been a plus, but I think Cody has always wanted to be known for more than just being able to throw. He's saved us some runs out there, and he's been extremely unselfish, as well.
"He could have been all about him, all about him needing to catch more, all about the draft, all about, 'I need to show this, this and this.' That's the mindset you get sometimes."
With Roberts, that's never been the case.
'Not done yet'
When Martorano arrived on campus in the fall of 2016, he said he wasn't sure what the dynamics would be like between him and Roberts as they competed for the starting catcher job.
Like so many other people, Martorano first noticed Roberts' arm strength. He also admired Roberts' footwork. But what impressed Martorano more than anything was how cordial Roberts was in helping him adjust to college, both on and off the field.
"Playing behind him for a year and being able to share some time with him this year has helped me learn a lot about certain things," Martorano said. "He's been nothing but a great help for me personally and, of course, to the team over his three years.
"I think this is just the beginning for Cody. He's had a great career at Carolina, and I think he'll only continue to blossom once he gets into pro ball."
That could be just a few weeks from now.
After being drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 38th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Roberts was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11th round on Wednesday. He received the news during practice. And Martorano immediately congratulated him.
But before shifting his attention to his future, Roberts remains concentrated on what awaits him and his teammates, should they win one more game against Stetson.
"We know we're not done yet," Roberts said. "We still have an end goal, and that's obviously getting through this weekend and getting to Omaha. Then hopefully we get to a national championship, as well."
If they do, Roberts will be a key reason why. And it won't be just because of his arm.
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Cody Roberts knew he probably shouldn't be there Friday, sitting at a podium inside the Boshamer Stadium player's lounge. Almost four weeks ago, few people imagined he would be.
Instead, most North Carolina baseball fans assumed Roberts would still be sidelined after a foul ball struck him in the groin area on May 13 against Duke. Roberts, playing catcher when he sustained the injury, underwent surgery a few hours later. His recovery, doctors said, would take about 3-4 weeks. But given his age (21), they also said he could potentially recuperate quicker.
Roberts said that seemed possible just a few days after his surgery. Then came the doubts.
"A week into it," he said, "I'm like, 'Alright, this isn't getting any better. This might actually be a serious timeframe.'"
Early on, Roberts realized he wouldn't be ready for the ACC Tournament, held May 22-27. But his concerns about returning for NCAA Tournament play steadily grew.
Those worries subsided, though, shortly after the ACC Tournament. He suddenly started feeling better. And about four days earlier than expected, he returned to UNC Hospitals for a follow-up appointment. Doctors cleared him then.
Upon receiving that clearance, Mike Fox immediately penciled Roberts back into the starting lineup. He knew the Tar Heels needed Roberts. And in all three games of last weekend's Chapel Hill Regional, Roberts showed why, flashing his defensive prowess in right field and at catcher.
But in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional against Stetson, Roberts' greatest contributions came with his bat.
Roberts' first-inning double led to a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1. Neither team scored over the next three innings. Then on a 2-2 pitch from Stetson's Logan Gilbert, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Roberts hit a three-run home run over the left-field wall in the fifth, handing UNC all the momentum it needed.
The Tar Heels went on to win 7-4, pulling them within one victory of returning to the College World Series for the first time since 2013. And joining Fox, Michael Busch and Cooper Criswell for the postgame press conference, Roberts knew he probably shouldn't be there.
"Having that injury was tough," Roberts said. "But we have good doctors here, and we stayed on top of everything, and I was able to recover pretty quickly. So to be able to come back and be a part of that regional and win it obviously was pretty awesome. And then to help my team win today was a pretty cool experience."
The stage might have been larger, the spotlight even bigger. Yet Roberts' stellar performance Friday was just another example of how integral he's been to Carolina over the last three years.
Striving to grow
It began with pots and pans, occasionally a few balls. But no matter what objects Roberts got his hands on as a child, he always threw them.
So it only seems appropriate that his right throwing arm, one that earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale according to Baseball America, is what scouts, fans and Roberts' teammates always praise when talking about him.
One could point to his family's athletic background as a reason for his arm strength. His older brother, Sam, played football and baseball at Birmingham Southern. His father, Scott, was a linebacker at Wake Forest.
But it's also something Roberts developed.
"A lot of people are like, 'You have such a gifted arm,'" he said. "I do, and I know I do; I'm very thankful for it. But at the same time, it's something I work a lot on, as well. I'm just constantly trying to make it better and see how hard I can throw, I guess."
Roberts recognizes his arm's importance. Yet hearing compliments about it for a majority of his life and typically few about other aspects of his game, he's always strived to grow as a player.
That's been especially true at UNC.
Despite playing catcher since he was 9, Roberts said he played outfield and third base as a freshman and sophomore at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Ga. He played catcher, outfield, shortstop and pitcher during the summers. But coming to Carolina, which he committed to just two weeks before his senior year, allowed him to hone his catching skills.
Roberts said his biggest challenge as a freshman was receiving pitches. Catching pitchers such as J.B. Bukauskas and Zac Gallen, among others, accelerated that learning curve.
"That was the biggest adjustment was being able to do what I did with pitchers who were throwing 85 with ones who were now throwing 98," Roberts said. "I think blocking was tough, too. Just everything was quicker; that was basically the biggest step."
Eventually, he acclimated. Over 100 starts at catcher across his freshman and sophomore seasons certainly helped that. And in his three seasons, he's also improved at the plate.
As a junior, Roberts owns a .276/.376/.402 slash line, the best of his career. He's also set career highs for hits (55), runs (47), home runs (5) and RBIs (37) in 54 games, fewer than he played as a freshman or sophomore. Fox has inserted Roberts into almost every spot in the batting order. That included a successful stint at leadoff.
"I've just worked a lot in the offseason and tried to carry that into this season," said Roberts, who leads the team with six sacrifice bunts. "I didn't have the greatest offensive year, but I feel I've definitely improved a lot."
Still, Roberts' arm draws most of the attention. He's thrown out 45.8 percent of would-be base stealers (29-of-64) during his career. This season, he's caught 7-of-14.
But most of this year, Roberts' throws have come from right field.
'Extremely unselfish'
Playing for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League last summer, Roberts found himself in a three-man rotation at catcher, along with Baylor's Shea Langeliers and Manhattan College's Fabian Pena.
Every third game, Roberts caught. The rest he spent in the outfield, granting him more at-bats.
By the time Roberts returned to Chapel Hill for the fall semester, he said UNC's coaches had heard he'd been playing outfield. They asked him about it. And he told them not only of his summer outfield experience, but of playing the position growing up.
When fall practice began, the coaches experimented with Roberts in the outfield. He showed them more than enough.
Of Roberts' 54 starts this season, 30 have come in right field. Twenty-four have still been at catcher. But three times he's started behind the plate and moved to right field. He's also made two appearances in center.
"I've just tried to take as many reps and get as comfortable as I can out there because it seemed like early on in the season that was going to be something they needed me to do," Roberts said. "It was just a way I could still help the team without having to be a designated hitter or completely out of the lineup if I wasn't catching that day."
Roberts' move to the outfield also allowed Brandon Martorano to receive more playing time. That's benefited the Tar Heels, as Martorano ranks second on the team in home runs (9) and third in slugging percentage (.484). He's also thrown out 10 would-be base stealers.
Even in the outfield, Roberts has managed to shut down opponents' running games. The most recent examples of that came last weekend.
Against North Carolina A&T last Friday, Roberts caught a line drive in the first inning and turned it into an inning-ending double play by picking off the runner at first base. Then on Sunday, in the top of the third inning, he threw out a Houston batter who tried to stretch a single into a double. That play came after the Cougars' pushed their lead to 3-1 on a home run in the previous at-bat. UNC answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame.
"When he threw that kid out at second," said Martorano, referencing the Houston game, "I promise I was literally saying, 'Please run, please run, please run to second base.' For Cody to throw that guy out there in that spot was absolutely unbelievable.
"We all have that trust in him that if any runner is stupid enough to run on him, he'll get an out for the team. He has an immense impact for us all over the field."
Roberts could have hesitated about playing in the outfield. But he never did. And that impresses Fox as much as Roberts' development at the position.
"I'd hate to say he's our best outfielder, but he's right up there," Fox said. "It just shows his athleticism and his ability to adjust. His arm has always been a plus, but I think Cody has always wanted to be known for more than just being able to throw. He's saved us some runs out there, and he's been extremely unselfish, as well.
"He could have been all about him, all about him needing to catch more, all about the draft, all about, 'I need to show this, this and this.' That's the mindset you get sometimes."
With Roberts, that's never been the case.
'Not done yet'
When Martorano arrived on campus in the fall of 2016, he said he wasn't sure what the dynamics would be like between him and Roberts as they competed for the starting catcher job.
Like so many other people, Martorano first noticed Roberts' arm strength. He also admired Roberts' footwork. But what impressed Martorano more than anything was how cordial Roberts was in helping him adjust to college, both on and off the field.
"Playing behind him for a year and being able to share some time with him this year has helped me learn a lot about certain things," Martorano said. "He's been nothing but a great help for me personally and, of course, to the team over his three years.
"I think this is just the beginning for Cody. He's had a great career at Carolina, and I think he'll only continue to blossom once he gets into pro ball."
That could be just a few weeks from now.
After being drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 38th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Roberts was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11th round on Wednesday. He received the news during practice. And Martorano immediately congratulated him.
But before shifting his attention to his future, Roberts remains concentrated on what awaits him and his teammates, should they win one more game against Stetson.
"We know we're not done yet," Roberts said. "We still have an end goal, and that's obviously getting through this weekend and getting to Omaha. Then hopefully we get to a national championship, as well."
If they do, Roberts will be a key reason why. And it won't be just because of his arm.
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