Joshua Roberts facts for kids

Joshua Roberts (born 17 July 1986) is a talented Australian athlete. He plays both baseball and rugby league. He is known for playing baseball with the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League. He also plays rugby league for the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Rugby League.

Joshua Roberts' Baseball Journey

Starting Out with the Cleveland Indians

In 2003, when he was just 17, Josh Roberts was signed by the Cleveland Indians. This is a big professional baseball team in the United States. From 2004 to 2006, he played in their system. He reached a level called A-ball with the Lake County Captains. During this time, Josh showed his versatility. He played many different positions, including catcher, first base, outfield, and even pitcher.

Playing in Australia

After his time with the Cleveland Indians, Josh returned home to Australia. He continued to play baseball in the Claxton Shield. This is a top baseball competition in Australia. He played for the Queensland Rams. At the same time, he also played rugby league for the Ipswich Rugby League.

On November 11, 2010, Josh made his debut for the Brisbane Bandits. This was their very first game in the new Australian Baseball League. He played in right field. A few weeks later, on November 26, 2010, he made history. He hit the first-ever home run for the Bandits! This was against the Sydney Blue Sox.

By the end of the 2010–11 Australian Baseball League season, Josh had an amazing batting average of .319. He also led the Brisbane Bandits in hits, walks, doubles, and home runs. Because of his excellent performance, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the Bandits that season.

International Opportunities

After his successful season in Australia, Josh was invited to try out for a team in Japan. This was the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. They are a professional team in the NPB, which is Japan's top baseball league. Although he tried his best, he was not signed by the team.

Balancing Two Sports

In 2011, Josh also debuted for the Ipswich Jets in rugby league. However, he has decided to make baseball his main focus. He has committed himself to playing for the Brisbane Bandits. This shows his dedication to his baseball career.