High Schools: Hurst L.D. Bell

Ryan Roberts has no regrets about his sprint around the diamond after his first major league RBI.

He also doesn't care that it was nearly three years before he would get his second one.

"That's just how it is," Roberts said. "For a guy like me, being a bench guy and not getting a lot of at-bats, I'll take what I can. All that stuff will play out in life. I'm not worried about the first or last RBI. All I want to do is be on a team and play for a manager and front office that believes in me."

Roberts believes he's found that place with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The former L.D. Bell and UT-Arlington standout made the Diamondbacks' roster out of spring training as a backup infielder. Roberts went to camp as a non-roster invitee. He had only 31 plate appearances in his first three stints in the major leagues.

Roberts, 28, made the team after hitting .283 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in spring training.

"I try to prepare for everything so I won't be surprised or shocked," Roberts said. "It wasn't an easy path. You start counting the number of guys on the roster and it gets frustrating. You read stories about different guys and you don't see your name in it. It starts shining a little dimmer light on it. But I tried to stay positive and not worry about so much."

It's the same upbeat approach Roberts has taken throughout his career. He was drafted by Toronto in 2003 and made his big league debut in 2006. His first major league hit was a home run against the Yankees on Aug. 3, 2006.

But Roberts played in only 17 games with the Blue Jays over two years before moving on to the Rangers. Last season, he spent most of the year in Triple-A. He was called up by the Rangers for three days but got just one plate appearance.

He holds no grudges against the Rangers, instead focusing on the outstanding season he had in Oklahoma, where he hit .300 with 10 homers and 66 RBIs.

"I can't complain with anything in my career," Roberts said. "Do I wish I would have been in the big leagues more? Yes. But I learned a lot last year and got to play for (Triple-A manager) Bobby Jones. I had my best season. I don't have any regrets."

Arizona was the first team to call Roberts in the off-season.

"I couldn't ask for anything more," said Roberts, who has played in 12 games this season.

"Just to be given the opportunity to make a team is great and then to make the opening day roster. When you have a manager and a team that takes a chance on you, it's a great feeling."