Arizona Diamondbacks Trade Ryan Roberts to Tampa Bay Rays for Tyler Bortnick

Arizona Diamondbacks Trade Ryan Roberts to Tampa Bay Rays for Prospect Tyler Bortnick

The Arizona Diamondbacks traded infielder Ryan Roberts to the Tampa Bay Rays for second base prospect Tyler Bortnick. Let's take a look at the newest member of the Arizona organization.

Tyler Bortnick, 2B: Bortnick was a 16^th round draft pick in 2009 from Coastal Carolina University. He had a great year in the Florida State League in 2011, hitting .306/.428/.432 for Charlotte with 79 walks and 43 stolen bases in 474 at-bats. Moving up to Double-A Montgomery this year, he's lost 50 points off his batting average, hitting .253/.352/.385, but is still showing good patience with 46 walks, plus he's stolen 23 bases in 26 attempts.

Bortnick is a 5-11, 185 pound right-handed hitter, born July 3, 1987 in Mentor, Ohio. He doesn't have great tools, but has outstanding instincts, fitting the mold of the stereotype scrappy second baseman. He has good plate discipline and occasional pop to the gaps, and is very adept at using his average speed to disrupt the defense, taking extra bases and racking up steals at a terrific clip. Lack of arm strength limits him to second base, but he is very reliable at the position and makes few errors.

Bortnick is an interesting sleeper prospect, although scouting reports indicate that Roberts has superior tattoos.