Article: 12 Questions With... Nate Roberts

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1248-12-Questions-With-Nate-Roberts

[clutterheart]

How could you not ask him about his facial hair?!?!?

Its one of the Best in all of Baseball.

 

Is there any hope that he tries to convert to a 2B position? Or am I just dreaming.

[gil4]

How could you not ask him about his facial hair?!?!?

Its one of the Best in all of Baseball

 

I was thinking one of the questions should be "Do they not sell razors anywher in Peoria, AZ?" The 70's called and they'd like their 'stache back.

 

I fairly recently retired from the AF, so my knee-jerk reaction is still "that's outa regs." Give me another 5 years and I'll probably agree with you.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

One of my favorite prospects. He's mashed at every single level. Admire the stache greatly. You're dreaming clutter. He's a corner outfielder.

[clutterheart]

One of my favorite prospects. He's mashed at every single level. Admire the stache greatly. You're dreaming clutter. He's a corner outfielder.

 

I hope you are right. But I don't think he has the power to be a corner guy and he is not fast enough to be a CF. I see him as a 4th OF who can get on base. If he could play 2B he would be a fantastic super utility guy because his on base skills would translate well to a pinch hitter.

 

Also, I wouldn't say he mashed at every level. He has done good but not great everywhere except Arizona where he was unreal. He is not all that young for his level so it would get him back on track to be at AA to start the year next year. If Hicks or Arcia start the year on the big league roster it will help move up a level and officially pass a prospect like Morales.

 

But I like his answer regarding health. If he stays healthy the whole year he could jump up in some prospect rankings.

[Shane Wahl]

I would like to see him with Ortiz and Morales in New Britain. Those three are legitimate prospects and they should be there to compete and be close to knocking on the door. NO more fill in players taking up space, please.

[SurroundedByTigers]

Trade Willingham now - we need that mustache in left.

[beckmt]

I would like to see him with Ortiz and Morales in New Britain. Those three are legitimate prospects and they should be there to compete and be close to knocking on the door. NO more fill in players taking up space, please.

I agree, we need to see what he can do against higher competition.

[Seth Stohs]

Whether he starts there or not, we can all assume that Roberts will spend plenty of time in New Britain this season. he doesn't have to be added to the 40 man roster until after this upcoming season, so in reality, there isn't a huge rush. That said, his plate approach and discipline certainly make him intriguing as yet another outfielder to watch in the system.

[Dantes929]

Not a big deal Seth but I did a double take when you said his OBP was 1.226

[Dantes929]

Ok, I understand sample size and all that but his minor league stats have been very good and if ever you can say someone dominated a league you can say it of Roberts in the Arizona League. By comparison, Hicks has not had that kind of stretch at any point in his development, hit ..286 in his best year which is last year in triple A and hit .202 against the same competiion Roberts was facing in the Arizona League. Do you think if the season had been 150 more games Hicks would outperform Roberts? If so, then case closed. If not then why wouldn't Roberts jump beyond Ft. Myers or New Britain? They were both facing AA and AAA competition and Roberts shined while Hicks did not even after a good and well publicized start.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Again Seth--thanks for this feature--I love it (and the stache). Given the Twins glut of OF prospects I would like to see Roberts get a crack at 2B and 3B at New Britain just to see if he could handle it. It would make him more valuable to the Twins and make the Twins better if he could be an all around utility guy instead of 4th OF.

[70charger]

Can we do another dozen questions with his 'stache?

 

Q: "What was it like being on your first porn set?"

A: "Aw man, it was unreal. There was this one chick...."

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

One of my favorite prospects. He's mashed at every single level. Admire the stache greatly. You're dreaming clutter. He's a corner outfielder.

 

I hope you are right. But I don't think he has the power to be a corner guy and he is not fast enough to be a CF. I see him as a 4th OF who can get on base. If he could play 2B he would be a fantastic super utility guy because his on base skills would translate well to a pinch hitter.

 

Also, I wouldn't say he mashed at every level. He has done good but not great everywhere except Arizona where he was unreal. He is not all that young for his level so it would get him back on track to be at AA to start the year next year. If Hicks or Arcia start the year on the big league roster it will help move up a level and officially pass a prospect like Morales.

 

But I like his answer regarding health. If he stays healthy the whole year he could jump up in some prospect rankings.

 

.307/.439/.458 isn't mashing? That's career minor league averages for him. His worst was a .860 OPS. Of course his age is his biggest flaw, but he still was close to the average age of players in Beloit. I personally have him #12 in my prospect rankings. While he doesn't have a ton of power for a corner outfielder, Roberts has a little bit of everything tools wise and we saw a lot of speed last season. Too bad he bats lefty.

[shs_59]

Even if he stays an OF I like him at this point quite a bit better than say...Joe Benson.

 

I'd be shocked if Roberts didn't start 2013 in AA New Britian ( I have him as our 4th OF'er for 2015).

 

And i think he has a great chance to be a bit more than that....say the David Murphy type of mold.

[B Richard]

Glad to see this, sounds like he's a great guy. More importantly, if he can stay healthy it seems like he could be a solid ballplayer. I know it's been commented on, but I also love this guy's stache. Wish I could grow one like that

[Paul Pleiss]

Nate easily has the best mustache in the Twins franchise, I was hoping for a question about it's origin. It seemed to fuel his play down in the AFL. I wonder if it will still be around when he shows up for spring training. I surely hope so.