Roberts puts a feather in his baseball cap

PORTLAND, Ore. — University of Portland pitcher Josh Roberts was drafted by the Florida Marlins last Friday. In addition to Roberts, three other UP pitchers were also picked. Chris Siegfried, Given Kutz, and Ari Ronick were also selected on the second day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Siegfried was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, while Kutz was taken in the by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Ronick was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds.

Roberts, who is the son of Marlene Matt and Tom Roberts, and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, has served as the team's closer. The solid-built hard-throwing, 6-foot 5-inch right-hander, went 3-2 with five saves and a 4.66 ERA in 23 relief appearances this season. He owns the all-time record for appearances in games for the university with 90 in his career. He has nine career saves, which is tied for third most on UP's career chart.

Roberts whose hometown is Snohomish, Wash., is a 2007 graduate of the University of Portland.

"We are very happy for all four guys," head coach Chris Sperry said. "They have worked very hard to develop their skills over the last few years and it has paid off. Regardless of whether they decide to return to school or pursue their professional careers, getting drafted is a feather in the cap both for them and our program."

Siegfried, a junior from McMinnville, Ore., is a 6-foot, 5-inch left-hander who made 19 appearances out of the bullpen and two starts in 2007. He posted a 1-2 record with a 5.20 ERA, striking out 22 in 36.1 innings. Siegfried excelled during West Coast Conference play, giving up just six earned runs in 19.2 innings for a 2.75 ERA.

Kutz, a redshirt junior from Mount Vernon, Wash., graduated this spring as a double major in sociology and Spanish and is coming off a banner year for the Pilots after earning All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honors. Kutz posted a 6-6 record and 3.77 ERA. He struck out 93 batters to rank third on the UP single-season list. Kutz led the pitching staff in wins, starts (15), innings pitched (105.0), shutouts (1) and strikeouts.

Kutz is tied for fourth on Portland's career charts in games started (39), fifth in career innings pitched (275.2), sixth in fewest walks per nine innings (2.71) and tenth in strikeouts (179).

Ronick had his junior season cut short after just eight appearances due to injury. The 6-foot, 5-inch southpaw made six starts and posted a 3.05 ERA, while holding opposing hitters to a staff-best .225 average.

The quartet is the latest group of Pilots to be drafted and hope to follow the same paths to success of some recent UP alums. Two former Pilots broke into the majors for the first time in their careers this year. Kory Casto (2001-03) has seen two stints with the Washington Nationals, while Eric Hull (2001-02) was also recently promoted with the Dodgers for a brief stint.

Portland had two other pitchers drafted last season: Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Mariners) and Joe Jones (Dodgers).