Texas-born and raised, Ryan Roberts was a high school All-American at L.D. Bell, hitting .580, the 7th-highest average in Texas history. He went on to a record-setting career at University of Texas in Arlington and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003.

Ryan grew up a shortstop. In college and pro ball, though, he moved all over the field, and as he worked his way through every level of the minor leagues to the majors, he ended up playing every position, even catching bullpens for Cy Young winners. Whenever he took on a new spot, he sought out the best player at that position and picked his brain, asking question after question until he understood it inside and out. That relentless curiosity made him a valuable starter at 2nd and 3rd base and a go-to utility man.

His first Major League hit was a home run at Yankee Stadium. Over 13 professional seasons, including 9 in the Major Leagues, he played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox, under managers like Joe Maddon, Bob Melvin, Kirk Gibson, and AJ Hinch.

His standout year came in 2011 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He led all of big league camp in spring training. In the final week of the season, with the team down three in extra innings, he hit a walk-off grand slam against the Dodgers. He followed it with a grand slam in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Brewers to help force a deciding Game 5. He also earned the team’s Fan Favorite and Heart and Hustle awards and was selected to the MLB All-Star team for the Taiwan All-Star Series.

In 2016, Ryan settled in Nashville with his wife and four kids, and he has been bringing that same approach to young players through teaching hitting, fielding, strategy, and the mental toughness it takes to compete.