Completed Event: Baseball versus TCU on May 17, 2025 , Loss , 6, to, 8 , (11 inn.)
Final Score
Baseball
(11 inn.)
6
vs TCU
8
Photo by: Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics
Kai Roberts Selected by San Diego in 7th Round of MLB Draft
7/15/2024 2:40 PM | Baseball
Padres pick Lehi, Utah native at No. 210 overall
FORT WORTH, Texas – University of Utah Baseball alumnus Kai Roberts was selected in the MLB Draft on Monday, as the San Diego Padres claimed the outfielder in the seventh round with the 210th overall pick.
Roberts—a native of Lehi, Utah—becomes the program's 76th draft selection all-time and highest since DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. was taken by Minnesota at No. 124 overall back in 2018. He is the second Utah alum to be picked by the Padres; former pitcher Mitch Watrous went to San Diego in the eighth round in 2014.
Roberts put together a 2024 season that positioned him as one of the Pac-12's most improved players from the 2023 campaign. He raised his batting average nearly 100 points (.266 to .356) and bumped his slugging percentage from .393 to .562, to go with career-highs of 83 hits, 21 doubles, seven home runs and 58 RBI.
For his efforts, he was named ABCA All-Region Second Team and Pac-12 All-Conference. He was also tabbed the No. 12 outfielder on D1Baseball.com's late-season national position rankings.
He etched his name in the record books as the top base-stealer in program history both for a single season (33 in 2024) and career (66). His 33 stolen bases this past season led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th in the country; it came after Roberts totaled 33 stolen bases combined across the 2021-23 seasons.
He started all 55 games in center field this past season, finishing among the conference's top-10 in most major categories including batting average (5th, .356); OBP (8th, .430); hits (3rd, 83); doubles (T-3rd; 21); RBI (T-6th, 58) and runs scored (T-8th; 52). Roberts' 27 multi-hit games was the most by a Ute in the Pac-12 era; Utah was 19-8 in those games.
Roberts finished his 201-game career at Utah with a .301 / .404 / .459 slash line, including 61 doubles, nine triples, 16 home runs and 154 runs batted in. His 61 career doubles are tied for second-most at Utah dating back to 1990, while Roberts' 154 RBI and 155 runs scored sit sixth and eighth, respectively, during that time.
A high school All-State star at Skyridge High School, Roberts played scholastically for his father, Ryan Roberts. He had a .370 high school batting average with the Falcons.
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Follow the Utes on social media @utahbaseball.
Roberts—a native of Lehi, Utah—becomes the program's 76th draft selection all-time and highest since DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. was taken by Minnesota at No. 124 overall back in 2018. He is the second Utah alum to be picked by the Padres; former pitcher Mitch Watrous went to San Diego in the eighth round in 2014.
Roberts put together a 2024 season that positioned him as one of the Pac-12's most improved players from the 2023 campaign. He raised his batting average nearly 100 points (.266 to .356) and bumped his slugging percentage from .393 to .562, to go with career-highs of 83 hits, 21 doubles, seven home runs and 58 RBI.
For his efforts, he was named ABCA All-Region Second Team and Pac-12 All-Conference. He was also tabbed the No. 12 outfielder on D1Baseball.com's late-season national position rankings.
He etched his name in the record books as the top base-stealer in program history both for a single season (33 in 2024) and career (66). His 33 stolen bases this past season led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th in the country; it came after Roberts totaled 33 stolen bases combined across the 2021-23 seasons.
He started all 55 games in center field this past season, finishing among the conference's top-10 in most major categories including batting average (5th, .356); OBP (8th, .430); hits (3rd, 83); doubles (T-3rd; 21); RBI (T-6th, 58) and runs scored (T-8th; 52). Roberts' 27 multi-hit games was the most by a Ute in the Pac-12 era; Utah was 19-8 in those games.
Roberts finished his 201-game career at Utah with a .301 / .404 / .459 slash line, including 61 doubles, nine triples, 16 home runs and 154 runs batted in. His 61 career doubles are tied for second-most at Utah dating back to 1990, while Roberts' 154 RBI and 155 runs scored sit sixth and eighth, respectively, during that time.
A high school All-State star at Skyridge High School, Roberts played scholastically for his father, Ryan Roberts. He had a .370 high school batting average with the Falcons.
Follow Utah Baseball
Follow the Utes on social media @utahbaseball.
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