Chris Roller

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Chris Roller

|team = Long Island Ducks

|number = 9

|position = Outfielder

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|8}}

|birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 15

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers

|statyear = 2024 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .000

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 0

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 0

|teams =

Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2024}})

}}

Christopher P. Roller (born October 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Career

=Amateur career=

Roller attended Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2016/09/23/chris-roller-dubbed-lake-travis-view-male-athlete-of-the-year/9921582007/|title=Chris Roller dubbed Lake Travis View Male Athlete of the Year|first=Michael|last=Adams|website=Austin American-Statesman}} He was named to the all-state teams for baseball as an outfielder and American football as a defensive back. Roller did not receive any offers from NCAA Division I universities to play college baseball, so he enrolled at McLennan Community College. In 2016, his freshman year, he played in 33 of the team's' 57 games, and batted .347 with nine stolen bases and nine runs batted in (RBIs). As a sophomore the following year, he became the team's starting center fielder and batted .414 with 87 runs scored, 92 hits, 26 doubles, and 32 stolen bases, leading the team in those categories, and also hit 10 home runs with 71 RBIs.{{Cite web|url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/mcc/for-ex-mcc-highlander-roller-best-path-was-the-one-he-didnt-see-coming/article_9c54b7d0-9d34-5989-a19d-eb681531b44e.html|title=For ex-MCC Highlander Roller, best path was the one he didn't see coming|first=BRICE|last=CHERRY|date=May 7, 2020|website=Waco Tribune-Herald}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Roller in the 30th round, with the 910th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/2017/06/20/four-central-texans-selected-in/6678289007/|title=Four Central Texans selected in MLB draft|first=Thomas|last=Jones|website=Austin American-Statesman}} and he signed with the Dodgers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kwtx.com/content/sports/Former-MCC-baseball-players-sign-respective-pro-contracts-430268563.html|title=Former MCC baseball players sign respective pro contracts|date=June 23, 2017|website=www.kwtx.com}} He made his professional debut for the rookie–level Arizona League Dodgers, hitting .181 in 45 games. Roller split the 2018 season between the rookie–level Ogden Raptors and Single–A Great Lakes Loons, where he played in 54 contests and hit a combined .274/.377/.458 with 6 home runs, 24 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Chris Roller - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/christopher-roller/sa3004068/stats?position=OF|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

He returned to Great Lakes in 2019, playing in 88 games and batting .274/.359/.455 with 7 home runs, 44 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Chris Roller Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/6760-chris-roller/|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=January 8, 2021 |language=en}} Roller did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

=Cleveland Indians/Guardians=

On December 10, 2020, the Cleveland Indians selected Roller from the Dodgers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=Dodgers lose 8 players in Rule 5 Draft|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-2020-rule-5-draft-results|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He returned to action in 2021 with the Double–A Akron RubberDucks, for whom he made 70 appearances and hit .203/.281/.281 with one home run, 27 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=One-on-One with Akron RubberDucks Outfielder Chris Roller|url=https://tvsportsmag.com/one-on-one-with-akron-rubberducks-outfielder-chris-roller/|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=tvsportsmag.com|date=July 29, 2022 |language=en}}

Roller spent the 2022 season back in Akron, also appearing in three games for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers. In 76 games for Akron, he slashed .212/.308/.328 with 4 home runs, 26 RBI, and 6 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Chris Roller - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/210112/|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On August 31, 2023, Roller was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2023/08/31/brewers-acquire-minor-league-outfielders-may-be-eyeing-josh-donaldson/70729274007/|title=Brewers sign veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson to minor-league contract|website=Journal Sentinel}} In 108 games split between Columbus and the Triple–A Nashville Sounds, he batted a combined .247/.394/.449 with career–highs in home runs (15), RBI (67), and stolen bases (19).{{Cite web|title=Brewers' Chris Roller: Added to 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-chris-roller-added-to-40-man-roster/amp/|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

On October 23, 2023, the Brewers added Roller to their 40-man roster to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency.{{Cite web|title=Brewers add Chris Roller to 40-man roster|url=https://www.brewcrewball.com/platform/amp/2023/10/23/23929474/brewers-add-chris-roller-to-40-man-roster|access-date=December 27, 2023|website=brewcrewball.com|date=October 23, 2023 |language=en}} He was optioned to Triple–A Nashville to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Brewers' Chris Roller: Heads to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-chris-roller-heads-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=March 12, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} The Brewers promoted him to the major leagues for the first time on May 15, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Brewers' Chris Roller: Added to roster |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-chris-roller-added-to-roster/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} He made his MLB debut that night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out against Luis Ortiz in his only at–bat. Roller was designated for assignment by the Brewers on June 29.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Place Jared Koenig On 15-Day IL, Designate Chris Roller|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/brewers-place-jared-koenig-on-15-day-il-designate-chris-roller.html|access-date=June 29, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Nashville on July 4.{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/07/04 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Roller elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}

=Long Island Ducks=

On March 13, 2025, Roller signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Outfielder Chris Roller Signed by Ducks|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/brewers-outfielder-chris-roller-signed-by-ducks/n-6200042|access-date=March 13, 2025|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}}