Ramstein shortstop Christian Roy throws the ball to first base for the putout during the Division I final against Kaiserslautern at the 2025 DODEA European baseball championships on May 23, 2025, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Most young baseball players try to avoid playing outfield. Christian Roy was the exact opposite.

The Ramstein senior had no problem shagging flyballs – when batters managed to send the ball into center field, that is.

That became an issue when he joined the Royals his freshman year. With not many balls reaching him in the outfield, Roy fielded groundballs at third base during practice his sophomore year.

The Ramstein coaching staff took notice.

“Just being able to run out there to catch balls is one of my favorite things,” Roy said. “(The switch) started at third because I wanted to be more in the action. Not many balls are hit to the outfield in DODEA, depending on what team you’re playing.”

From there, Roy suited up at almost every infield spot except first base and catcher, before Stars and Stripes’ 2025 baseball Athlete of the Year settled in exclusively at shortstop whenever he wasn’t pitching.

The 5-foot-11 Roy helped power the Royals to a second-straight Division I European championship and the third in a four-year stretch. On the mound, he made nine appearances with six starts, going 4-2, striking out 35 batters and allowing just 15 hits. He posted a 2.87 ERA.

At the plate, Roy batted .375 with two home runs. He drove in 23 runs while crossing home plate 32 times himself.

Perhaps just as importantly was his glove work. The Oklahoma City native committed just one error all season at shortstop.

“Defensively is definitely a part of my game where I shine,” Roy said. “Being the captain of the infield, it was a great honor.”

Roy credited his defensive stability to the work he put in perfecting his craft. He said he constantly works on his hand-eye coordination, even outside the baseball field.

He said his father, Bryant, played a key role in his defensive evolution. Roy especially pointed to his father’s effect on his ability to track balls – be it as a wide receiver in football or as a fielder in baseball.

“My dad has always been there for me and been a big part of my baseball journey … if I’m going to go to the field, if he wants to throw me soft toss or tee work,” said Roy, who also thanked his mother Wylisha for her constant support.

Speaking of support, Roy and the Royals pitching staff didn’t get it much from their offense at the beginning of the season, adding pressure on the rotation as well as the defense to keep the defending European champs in games.

The Royals batted just north of the Mendoza Line (.210-.215) through the rest few weeks of the season. Roy said the struggles perplexed the players, who were mashing balls in the batting cages but were striking out in games.

Ramstein looked vulnerable because of the near hitting blackout. The team split the season series with crosstown rival Kaiserslautern and a resurgent Vilseck squad.

The team’s top two pitchers, crafty lefty Conor McGinty and Roy, had their hands full until the bats caught up. For Roy, that meant relying on his fastball that hits 78 to 82 mph and his slurve to bamboozle opponents.

“Of course, every pitcher loves to have run support,” Roy said. “But on the mound, I really just trusted my guys behind me and whatever happens, just told them to pick it up and everything’s going to be fine, next play, the mind of a goldfish.”

By the European tournament, the Royals had themselves batting around .350 as a team. And they seemed to be rolling on all cylinders, beating Stuttgart, Wiesbaden and Vilseck by an average of 6.67 runs en route to the final.

There, Ramstein ran into Kaiserslautern. The Raiders took an early 1-0 lead, but the Royals immediately answered, a theme throughout the game. Every time the Raiders got on the board, the Royals responded, not losing a single inning and scoring all eight of their runs with two outs.

Roy found himself in a different position from the previous season. The three-sport athlete started the 2024 title game, but he came on in relief of McGinty in the sixth inning last month at Southside Fitness Center. He allowed two runs but also struck out two batters in the top of the seventh to clinch the championship.

“That was our mindset, just to go out there and play our game and go out there and dominate,” Roy said.

“Making practice a game situation really helped us. When we got to the championship, there was nothing that surprised us.”

While May 23’s final was his last game in a Ramstein uniform, it won’t be the last time Roy suits up in the sport. He will be playing at Ottawa University, an NAIA school in Ottawa, Kan.

Roy mentioned he will switch back to his preferred position in the outfield, while also seeing a little time in the middle infield.

No matter where he lines up, he’s looking forward to collegiate baseball.

“I’m very excited. Being able to have this opportunity is just a blessing,” Roy said. “I’m ready to take that next step in my abilities. I’m ready to compete at the next level and hopefully take that as far as I possibly can.”