June 25, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After recording his best season in a Lion uniform in 2009, a year that saw him named to the All-West Coast Conference first team, Lee Roberts signed a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals organization. Roberts, who has already started pitching for the Arizona League Royals, has tossed three innings of scoreless relief so far in his professional career, striking out two.

Working as LMU's Friday starter nearly all year, and helping cap the Lions' first winning season since 2005 with a West Coast Conference Championship berth, Roberts finished the season with a 7-2 record and a 3.58 ERA over 13 starts and 103 innings of work. Roberts, who allowed just 27 walks while striking out 91 hitters, lasted at least six innings in 11 of his 13 starts this year, collecting three complete games along the way. In addition, he amassed five or more strikeouts in all but one of his starts. The native of Hermosa Beach, Calif. finished the season ranked first in the WCC in shutouts (1), complete games (3) and innings pitched (103), second in strikeouts (85), fifth in wins (7) and eighth in ERA (3.58). He also finished his senior campaign ranked in the Top-100 in the NCAA in strikeouts (57th).

In other LMU baseball news, Angelo Songco (4th Round - Los Angeles Dodgers), Ryan Wheeler (5th Round - Arizona Diamondbacks) and Kyle Spraker (34th Round - Tampa Bay Rays) each signed with their respective teams after being taken in the 2009 MLB Draft.