Player of the Year: Bryan Roberts

Bryan Roberts of Benet is the Sun-Times' Baseball Player of the Year.
(Danielle Gardner/Naperville Sun)

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It wasn’t easy for Benet’s Bryan Roberts to give up catching. He was one of the most touted catching prospects in the state since his sophomore year. To Roberts, pitching was an afterthought.

But Illinois recruited him as a pitcher.

So heading into his senior season, the decision was made that Roberts would pitch.

‘‘I missed it a lot this year,’’ said Roberts, the Sun-Times’ 2008 Player of the Year. ‘‘Catching has always been so much fun. It’s great to be back there — throwing guys out, blocking balls. It’s a lot of fun.’’

While the decision may have been tough, it’s hard to dispute the results. With his time freed up to work on pitching drills, mechanics and long toss, the 6-3, 210-pound right-hander developed into a dominant pitcher. Using an 88-91 mph fastball and a biting curveball, Roberts struck out nearly two batters an inning.

‘‘I always knew he would be a great high school pitcher,’’ Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake said. ‘‘But I didn’t think he’d be this dominant. He pitched against the best teams in the state and was really dominant.’’

In 71.2 innings, Roberts recorded 133 strikeouts, yielding only 16 walks and 37 hits with an 0.89 ERA.

Highlights among his nine victories and three saves included a 17-strikeout effort against Notre Dame where only one batter reached a three-ball count, and an 11-strikeout, two-hit shutout vs. Joliet Catholic.

He also three-hit Carmel and opened the season by striking out 10 in a four-inning no-hitter against Downers Grove North.

‘‘I knew I would have a pretty decent year, but I didn’t think anything like this,’’ said Roberts, who also batted .404 with 14 doubles, four home runs and 27 RBI.

‘‘I’ve always had a decent amount of strikeouts, but I always walked a lot of batters. I was really happy with my control this year.’’