In similar fashion to how his career played out after being taken in the 28th round of the 1994 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers, Dave Roberts overcame odds stacked against him to become the Los Angeles Dodgers’ next manager.
He was a finalist with Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler, whom many called the early favorite and expected to be named Don Mattingly’s replacement.
However, Roberts’ intellect, charisma and energy were enough to impress the Dodgers and led to him becoming the first minority manager in franchise history.
Roberts’ first year as manager comes with the club he spent two and a half seasons playing for. He joined the Dodgers in winter of 2001 when then-general manager Dan Evans completed a Minor League trade with the Cleveland Indians.
According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, Evans quickly took notice that Roberts was unlike most players as the outfielder regularly drove to meet Maury Wills for workouts:
“I’m thinking this guy is going to make the drive up from Poway three or four times. He did it three or four times a week,” Evans said. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow. This guy gets it.’ I kept waiting for those Friday excuses. We all make them. You know what the traffic can be like on Fridays. He never made one.”
Evans, who currently works for the Toronto Blue Jays, went on to add he will be rooting for Roberts throughout the season, until a certain point:
“I think he has a chance to be really successful – and he doesn’t have to change. I’m a Dave Roberts fan, have been since the day we acquired him. I’m happy he’s not in our league. I can root for him until late October.”
Roberts went on to win the starting center-field job in spring 2012. He played in 127 games for the Dodgers that season, batting .277/.353/.365 and contributing on the bases with 45 stolen bases.
The 2004 World Series champion has already received plenty of support from his new clubhouse, with Adrian Gonzalez speaking highly of Roberts, and Kiké Hernandez, Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner among those to congratulate their manager over social media.
Kapler, who played with Roberts on the 2004 Boston Red Sox team, also wrote a heartfelt, congratulatory message to the Dodgers’ skipper. Roberts first opportunity to manage a regular-season game will come against the San Diego Padres, an organization he spent the last five years with prior to joining the Dodgers.
