Caleb Roberts' Versatility Could Open a Path to the Roster

The D-backs No. 30 prospect's left-handed bat and ability to cover four different positions makes him a possible bench piece.

This article is part of a series counting down the Diamondbacks' Top 30 prospects entering the 2024 season. These rankings are determined by Michael McDermott, in conjunction with the Inside the Diamondbacks staff.

Summary: Caleb Roberts has flown under the radar in his time with the D-backs organization since they drafted him out of North Carolina in the fifth round and signed for $408K. An outfielder turned catcher, along with a left-handed bat, Roberts offers some defensive versatility that makes him a potential end of the bench player. He appeared at four different positions in 2023: catcher, first base, left field, and right field. After a solid 2022 campaign, Roberts took another step forward with an excellent year in Double-A and could be on the short list of midseason call-ups from Triple-A during the 2024 season. 

Rank: 30

Age: 24

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Tools: Hit 45, Power 45, Run 50, Defense 45, Arm 50, Overall 40

ETA: 2024

2023 Recap: After finishing the 2022 season with Double-A Amarillo, Roberts spent the entire 2023 season there. Despite an elevated strikeout rate of 26%, he was able to impact the baseball with a .278/.382/.523 triple slash with 23 doubles, eight triples, and 17 home runs. FanGraphs rated his overall offense to be roughly 35% better than the average player in the league with a 135 wRC+. Afterwards the team sent Roberts to the Arizona Fall League, where he was able to draw a lot of walks in the OBP-driven league but didn't make the same type of impactful contact. He featured at four different positions in 2023 and had the breakthrough year he needed to get noticed.

2024 Expectations: Roberts will get promoted to Triple-A Reno, the final step before a potential second half debut. The strikeout rates are somewhat problematic given that they are still elevated, but that may be what's in his profile as his strikeout and walk rates have been remarkably consistent in each of the past three seasons. Roberts will likely see more time at outfield and first base than at catcher, more suited for emergency duty behind the plate. 

Projection: Roberts fits the profile of an end of the bench bat, being able to play both outfield corners, first base, and even catcher if necessary. As a left-handed bat, he should have a chance to get a fairly healthy number of plate appearances (~300-400). Long term the organization is relatively set in the outfield, but his defensive versatility should help get him on the field more. He'll likely see the overwhelming majority of his opportunities against right-handed pitching, as evidenced by his .285/.389/.541 slash when holding the platoon advantage in 2023 compared to .235/.339/.412 when he doesn't.

Top 30 Diamondbacks Prospects Entering the 2024 Season