This week we are catching up with former Waterloo Bucks infielder, Tony Roth. The Omaha, Nebraska native was signed with the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent following his senior season at Creighton University. Since then, Roth has bounced around the minor leagues.

 

Roth was a four-year starter at Creighton. He ended his career at Creighton with a .323 batting average, and his 58 doubles ranks fifth in school history. Twice he was named All-Missouri Valley first team and a first-team Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America selection.

 

Roth spent two seasons with the Yankees Rookie league team, the Staten Island Yankees. In 2005, he played in 26 games, and batted .270, with one homer and one stolen base. In 2006, Roth only played in 6 games with the Yankees, but in those five games Roth batted .500, had five RBI, one homer and two stolen bases. Roth soon advanced to the Yankee’s South Atlantic League, the Charleston RiverDogs. Roth was used as a utility player and played in five different positions including twice as a relief pitcher.

 

In 2007, Roth signed with the Texas Rangers where he quickly moved up their farm league system. He played in 48 games with three of the Rangers farm league teams including Single-A Bakersfield, Double-A Frisco, and Triple-A Oklahoma. Roth finished the season playing for the Evansville Otters in the Frontier League where he hit 14 runs in 10 games.

 

In 2008, the Southern Illinois Miners acquired Roth. He was voted to the West All-Star team, and prior to the all-star break Roth batted .308 with four home runs and 19 RBI in 40 games. Roth ended the season batting a .290 and hitting 25 RBI, five homers, and had six stolen bases.

 

In 2009, Roth played both second base and shortstop for the Miners. He also batted career highs with a .302 average, played in 84 games, hit nine homers, 41 RBI and had 15 stolen bases. Roth was also voted to the West All-star team for a second year in a row.

 

Roth was a member of the Waterloo Bucks in the ’04 season. The Creighton Alumnus batted a .295, hit one homer, 11 RBI, had four stolen bases and played in 22 games with the Bucks in the ’04 season.