As Dave Roberts enters his 11th season as Los Angeles Dodgers manager, his son, Cole Roberts, is getting ready to start his own coaching career.
After a three-year playing career, Cole was named the bench coach of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers’ High-A affiliate) for the 2026 season. He is part of a coaching staff that includes first-year manager René Rivera.
Cole, 25, was originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Loyola Marymount University. He never appeared in a game for them and eventually signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a Minor League free agent.
Cole spent parts of two years with the Diamondbacks before joining the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2025 season. He was called up to Double-A Reading for the first time and posted a .516 on-base plus slugging in six games.
We've named our @MiLB, Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League coaching and support staffs for Tigers affiliates for the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/YzX6wZMjFW
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 2, 2026
Cole hit .222/.316/.281 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 97 career Minor League games.
Cole joining the Tigers organization as a coach has a bit of significance, as his father Dave was selected by the franchise in the 28th round of the 1994 MLB Draft.
Dave played 10 big seasons before he received his first coaching opportunity with the Padres in 2011. He spent five seasons with the organization, serving as first base coach, bench coach and interim manager for one game.
Roberts was then hired as Dodgers manager at the end of the 2015 season and he has gone on to lead the team to unprecedented success, including 10 consecutive playoff appearances and three World Series championships.
Dave Roberts & Cole Roberts exchanged lineup cards
There was a special moment before a Spring Training game between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks in 2024 as Dave exchanged lineup cards with Cole.
The younger Roberts ended up taking an at-bat against his father’s team at the end of the game, grounding out to shortstop.
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