Austin Romine
Encyclopedia
Austin Allen Romine is a catcher
for the New York Yankees
of Major League Baseball
.
out of El Toro High School
.
Going into the 2009 season, he was rated the Yankees' fourth best prospect and their second best prospect for 2010, according to Baseball America
. In , Romine was named Florida State League
Player of the Year. In , he was named as a participant in the All-Star Futures Game
.
After competing for the big league backup catcher job in spring training, Romine was assigned to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
to begin the 2011 season.
On September 1, 2011, Romine was called up to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees after playing with the Trenton Thunder that night as the team's designated hitter
.
Less than two weeks later, Romine would make his major-league debut. After injuries to two catchers, first to Russell Martin
and then Francisco Cervelli
, the Yankees needed a replacement. When the team was unable to immediately reach Romine, manager Joe Girardi
then asked another player, Romine's older brother Andrew
, for help in contacting him. On September 10, while Austin was shopping with his girlfriend at a Walmart in Kentucky, Girardi called her cell phone and then told him about his call-up to the Yankees. The next morning, he traveled to California to join the team, which was then in a series with the Los Angeles Angels
, and was officially added to the Yankees' 40-man roster. In the seventh inning of the game against the Angels, Romine made his major league debut behind the plate. On September 12, he got his first Major League hit off of Mariners reliever Dan Cortes
.
, played in the majors for the Boston Red Sox
from to . His brother, Andrew Romine
, plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Baseball career
Romine was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
out of El Toro High School
El Toro High School
El Toro High School is a public high school in Lake Forest, California, United States and is one of five high schools in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District . The school has served the area since 1973. The current principal of the school is Dr...
.
Going into the 2009 season, he was rated the Yankees' fourth best prospect and their second best prospect for 2010, according to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. In , Romine was named Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
Player of the Year. In , he was named as a participant in the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
.
After competing for the big league backup catcher job in spring training, Romine was assigned to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
to begin the 2011 season.
On September 1, 2011, Romine was called up to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees after playing with the Trenton Thunder that night as the team's designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
Less than two weeks later, Romine would make his major-league debut. After injuries to two catchers, first to Russell Martin
Russell Martin
Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr is a Canadian Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees.Martin became the everyday catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately upon his Major League debut, and continued in that role for nearly 5 years...
and then Francisco Cervelli
Francisco Cervelli
Francisco Cervelli is a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees. He was an international signee by the Yankees in and played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the Italian team. He is Hispanic of Italian descent...
, the Yankees needed a replacement. When the team was unable to immediately reach Romine, manager Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
then asked another player, Romine's older brother Andrew
Andrew Romine
Andrew James Romine is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Biography:Romine was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 36th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, but he opted to attend Arizona State University, where he played for the Arizona...
, for help in contacting him. On September 10, while Austin was shopping with his girlfriend at a Walmart in Kentucky, Girardi called her cell phone and then told him about his call-up to the Yankees. The next morning, he traveled to California to join the team, which was then in a series with the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, and was officially added to the Yankees' 40-man roster. In the seventh inning of the game against the Angels, Romine made his major league debut behind the plate. On September 12, he got his first Major League hit off of Mariners reliever Dan Cortes
Dan Cortes
Daniel Adam "Dan" Cortes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
Personal
Romine's father, Kevin RomineKevin Romine
Kevin Andrew Romine is a former utility outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox throughout his career .-Biography:...
, played in the majors for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from to . His brother, Andrew Romine
Andrew Romine
Andrew James Romine is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Biography:Romine was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 36th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, but he opted to attend Arizona State University, where he played for the Arizona...
, plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
External links
- Romine trying to follow in father's (and brother's) footsteps New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsThe Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, Anthony McCarron, December 11, 2010 - Yankees catching prospect Austin Romine learning to weather ups, downs of hitting, NJ.com, July 31, 2010