LAS CRUCES, N.M. – It may be 100 degrees outside but the NM State baseball program has added a right-handed pitcher that touches 100 miles per hour off the mound. On Thursday morning, head coach Mike Kirby announced the addition of Aaron Roberts, a redshirt sophomore from the University of California.
 
Roberts was selected in the 15th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox but did not sign. Instead, Roberts headed to play collegiate baseball at the University of California.
 
In 2022, Roberts pitched in 13 games for the Golden Bears, making four starts as an opener. Opposing hitters could not find a rhythm against Roberts, mustering an opposing batting average of just .144. The redshirt sophomore tossed a scoreless inning in each of Cal's first twp shutout wins at Saint Mary's (March 29) and against San Jose State (May 3).
 
Against WAC hitters, Roberts continued to dominate, striking out the side in an inning of relief against No. 23 Sacramento State. In 2021, Roberts earned a spot as the opener against California Baptist, striking out a career-best four in 2.0 innings.
 
Coming out of high school, Perfect Game rated Roberts as the top player in the state in the class of 2019. Nevada has no shortage of baseball talent, either, as the state has produced MLB stars Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Joey Gallo, and many more in recent years. Roberts aquired a flurry of awards including the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, MaxPreps High School Baseball First Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball News First-Team All-American, and the PBR Nevada Player of the Year.
 
In the classroom, Roberts excels at the highest level. The Las Vegas native was named to the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll in both 2021 and 2022.