The Los Angeles Dodgers met with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first time since the 2023 National League Division Series, and this time the Dodgers came away victorious with a 12-1 victory.
Unfortunately, a Spring Training win doesn’t erase any of the leftover feelings from being swept in the NLDS last year, but it still turned out to be a special day for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Prior to the game, the skipper exchanged lineup cards with his son, Cole Roberts, who is a prospect in the D-Backs organization. Cole also took an at-bat against his father’s team at the end of the game.
A proud dad. 🥹
Dave Roberts and his son Cole exchanged lineup cards before the game. pic.twitter.com/yZbq6a8knR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 10, 2024
In his one at-bat, Cole grounded out to shortstop to end the game, but it put his dad in a spot between rooting for his own pitcher and rooting for his son.
Dave Roberts did say before the game he would be cheering for Cole, and with the stakes so low in Spring Training, the outcome didn’t matter much either way.
Still, it was a nice moment for the Roberts family.
Cole Roberts was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round as the 1,133rd overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, but he signed with the Diamondbacks as a Minor League free agent last July.
The 23-year-old has only played 19 professional games, all for the Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks, but he hit .400/.471/.564 with two home runs, three doubles and 11 RBI.
Dave Roberts facilitated moment for Kyle & Phil Nevin
Last year, a similar moment happened in Spring Training when Dodgers prospect Kyle Nevin exchanged lineup cards with his dad, then-Angels manager Phil Nevin, prior to a game at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Kyle also appeared as a pinch-hitter, which represented his first career Spring Training game. He struck out in his at-bat, but it was still a fond memory for the Nevin’s.
“I talked to Phil this past winter because Kyle was going to be in camp with us,” Roberts said after the game.
“Knowing that he was in our camp, I just thought it would be a special moment for their family. They’re going to do a nice dinner, and he got his swings in. So that’s a moment they’ll always remember.”
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