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Kurt Schroeder
Austin Roberts is as local as they come.
Since he was a kid, the 28-year-old has grown up in West Sacramento. Roberts pitched at the nearby River City High School and played collegiately at Sacramento State as he progressed through his baseball career.
Now he's with the Round Rock Express, the AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers.
This week he had a chance to pitch against his hometown Triple-A club, the Sacramento River Cats.
“I love the 916. I’m lighting the beam every chance I get,” Roberts said of the pride he feels being from the Sacramento area.
Roberts also feels the warmth of being back home for the first time as a professional baseball player.
“West Sac Little League, River City [High School] down the street, Sacramento State right down the highway," Roberts said of his journey in baseball.
Lessons learned at those levels has him prepared should his number be called from the bullpen.
“I was able to be better on the mound, a better teammate, a better person when I started making those work ethic changes," he said. "It’s definitely helped me to where I am today.”
He’s one call away from the big leagues. His statistics are strong.
“I’m trying to get to two strikes as quickly as possible and throw my nastiest pitches that I have in my arsenal,” Roberts said of his approach on the mound.
This week's series gives Roberts a chance to throw harder, and put more spin on his pitches. He admits being home gives him a shot of adrenaline. Before Game 2 of Round Rock's latest series against the River Cats, Roberts was deep in the center field grass with his long toss partner and hoping to get into the game later that night.
“The tower bridge, I saw that and I was like ‘oh yeah, I’m definitely back home in Sacramento'," Roberts said. "I actually have [Tower Bridge] tattooed on my arm. I carry a little piece of Sacramento everywhere I go with me.”
In his two appearances in the series Roberts has thrown 1.2 innings, given up one earned run, and struck out one batter. More than 100 friends and family are expected to support him from the stands to watch him compete in the town where his journey started.
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