Sergio Romo
Encyclopedia
Sergio Francisco Romo is a American right-handed professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
of Major League baseball
.
to Mexican immigrant
parents. He graduated from Brawley Union High School
in 2001, having played shortstop and third baseman on the baseball team.
, Romo played NCAA Division II baseball at two colleges: the University of North Alabama
(2004) and Mesa State College
(2005). Romo was named to the All-Region I second team of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in 2002 and 2003. In 159 innings, Romo made a 16-4 overall record with a 2.79 earned run average
(ERA). He was named First-Team All-Gulf South Conference
in 2004 while playing for North Alabama and was 10-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 97.1 innings. In his senior year with Mesa State, he was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Pitcher of the Year. In 2009, the RMAC named Romo "All-Time Top Pitcher."
.
Romo had his contract purchased from Double-A Connecticut
by the San Francisco Giants on June 24, 2008. He made his debut on June 26, 2008, against the Cleveland Indians
, striking out
two in an inning pitched. Romo was designated for assignment on August 6, and was eventually sent to the minors, but was recalled on August 16, 2008. He played winter baseball with the Mexicali Eagles
of the Mexican Pacific League. In nine relief appearances, Romo made six of seven attempted saves and a 2.89 ERA.
Romo started the 2009 season on the disabled list, and was activated on May 30, 2009. He completed his first major league save on July 7, 2009 against the Florida Marlins
. He got the last two outs of the game, both of which were via the strikeout
.
In 2010, Romo was part of the San Francisco World Series
team, acting as the team's primary setup man through much of the season. He gained notoreity for being one of the team's "Beards", along with closer Brian Wilson. In the National League Division Series
, Romo gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning pitched, but through the National League Championship Series
and World Series, he pitched 3 scoreless innings.
In 2011, Romo became the fifth reliever to throw 9 or more consecutive perfect innings, retiring thirty straight batters in 10 innings over a span of fourteen games. His 2011 skill-interactive ERA
(SIERA) of 0.91 remains the best of all Major League relief pitchers
for the season.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West 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...
.
Early life
Romo was born in Brawley, CaliforniaBrawley, California
Brawley is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Brawley is located north of El Centro. The population was 24,953 at the 2010 census, up from 22,052 at the 2000 census. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round...
to Mexican immigrant
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
parents. He graduated from Brawley Union High School
Brawley Union High School
Brawley Union High School is a high school in Brawley, California.-Clubs:*Environmental Club*Campus Life*Theatre/Drama*Rotary Interact*Friday Night Live*S Club*California Scholastic Federation*AVID* American Field Service*Travel...
in 2001, having played shortstop and third baseman on the baseball team.
College career
After transferring from Arizona Western CollegeArizona Western College
Arizona Western College is a public community college located in Yuma, Arizona, United States. AWC offers classes in San Luis, Somerton, Marine Corp Air Station , Wellton, Dateland, and La Paz....
, Romo played NCAA Division II baseball at two colleges: the University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
(2004) and Mesa State College
Mesa State College
Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction...
(2005). Romo was named to the All-Region I second team of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in 2002 and 2003. In 159 innings, Romo made a 16-4 overall record with a 2.79 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA). He was named First-Team All-Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
in 2004 while playing for North Alabama and was 10-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 97.1 innings. In his senior year with Mesa State, he was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States, mostly in Colorado with some members in Nebraska and New Mexico...
Pitcher of the Year. In 2009, the RMAC named Romo "All-Time Top Pitcher."
Professional career
Romo was drafted by the Giants in the 28th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
Romo had his contract purchased from Double-A Connecticut
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
by the San Francisco Giants on June 24, 2008. He made his debut on June 26, 2008, against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
two in an inning pitched. Romo was designated for assignment on August 6, and was eventually sent to the minors, but was recalled on August 16, 2008. He played winter baseball with the Mexicali Eagles
Águilas de Mexicali
The Águilas de Mexicali is a Mexican Pro baseball team playing for the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico based in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico...
of the Mexican Pacific League. In nine relief appearances, Romo made six of seven attempted saves and a 2.89 ERA.
Romo started the 2009 season on the disabled list, and was activated on May 30, 2009. He completed his first major league save on July 7, 2009 against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He got the last two outs of the game, both of which were via the strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
.
In 2010, Romo was part of the San Francisco World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
team, acting as the team's primary setup man through much of the season. He gained notoreity for being one of the team's "Beards", along with closer Brian Wilson. In the National League Division Series
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
, Romo gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning pitched, but through the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
and World Series, he pitched 3 scoreless innings.
In 2011, Romo became the fifth reliever to throw 9 or more consecutive perfect innings, retiring thirty straight batters in 10 innings over a span of fourteen games. His 2011 skill-interactive ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(SIERA) of 0.91 remains the best of all Major League relief pitchers
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the season.