Chris Roberson of the Reading Phillies named 2005 Eastern League Rookie of the Year
August 26, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1) News Release
Portland, ME - The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce that Reading Phillies outfielder Chris Roberson has been selected as the 2005 Eastern League Rookie of the Year. The 6'2", 175 lb. native of Oakland, California has had an excellent season for the R-Phils, hitting .313 (160-for-512) with 22 doubles, eight triples, 15 home runs, 84 runs scored, 66 RBI, 31 stolen bases, a .368 on-base percentage and a .475 slugging percentage. Roberson has been one of Reading's most consistent performers this season, never going more than three games without a hit and collecting hitting streaks of 13 games, 10 games, nine games and eight games at different times this season. The 26-year old is currently ranked among the league leaders in a number of offensive categories. He is leading the league in hits and runs scored and is also ranked in the top 10 in total bases, triples, stolen bases and batting average. Chris has not only been one of the top hitters in the Eastern League this season, but has also been one of the best defensive players in the league, as he leads all outfielders with 303 putouts and is also ranked second in outfield assists, with 15. With the end of the season approaching Chris is also chasing a spot in the Reading history books, as he is just 11 hits short of breaking the Reading franchise single-season hits record of 170, which was set by former Reading Indian Billy Harrell in 1953.
Roberson, who hit .307 with nine home runs, 52 runs scored and 38 RBI during an injury shortened season with Single-A Clearwater last year, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth round of the June 2001 draft out of Feather River Junior College. Chris was also chosen to play for the Southern Division in the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game and was selected by Baseball America as having the "Best Throwing Arm" in the Eastern League this season.
New Britain outfielder Alexander Romero finished second in the voting for the award and Trenton first baseman Shelley Duncan finished third in the voting. The award was voted on by respective Eastern League team managers and coaching staffs, sportswriters, radio and television broadcast personnel and other members of the media.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from August 26, 2005
- Curve hold off ninth-inning rally to earn 5-4 win over Akron - Altoona Curve
- Penn, Baysox offense author 7-2 win over R-Phils - Bowie Baysox
- Sea Dogs win on suicide squeeze in ninth - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Thunder blank B-Mets for sixth straight win - Trenton Thunder
- B-Mets shut out at Trenton - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Chris Roberson of the Reading Phillies named 2005 Eastern League Rookie of the Year - EL1
- Johnson, Tosca inducted into Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame - Portland Sea Dogs
- Baysox Playoff Tickets Go On Sale Monday - Bowie Baysox
- Bautista Selected to E.L. All-Star Team - Altoona Curve
- Three Sea Dogs named to Eastern League All-Star Team - Portland Sea Dogs
- Jacobs named Eastern League All-Star - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Maikel Jova will miss rest of season - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Eastern League announces 2005 All-Star team - EL1
- Mets go on the road - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Floyd learning to fly - Reading Fightin Phils
- Bowie Baysox continue playoff push - Bowie Baysox
- Sea Dogs in playoff hunt - Portland Sea Dogs
- Russ Taff post-game concert to highlight tonight's Curve faith night - Altoona Curve
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
