Austin Romine

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Austin Allen Romine

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Biographical Information[edit]

The son of Kevin Romine and brother of Andrew Romine, catcher Austin Romine was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2007 amateur draft. He was signed by scout David Keith and made his pro debut that summer with the GCL Yankees, going 1-for-2 in one game there.

Romine backed up Hank Conger for the US in the 2010 Futures Game; he was a late replacement for injured Tony Sanchez. In his first at-bat, in the 7th, he flew out against Trystan Magnuson. The next inning, facing Jeurys Familia, he hit a 97-mph fastball to left for a double, scoring Eric Hosmer with the final run in the USA's 9-1 victory.

Romine would spend the bulk of the 2011 season with the AA Trenton Thunder. He hit .286/.351./.378 with 6 homers and 47 RBI. After spending four games with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at the end of the season he was called up to the majors to experience the pennant race the New York Yankees were involved in. Romine made his debut on September 11th against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in Anaheim. With his parents in the stands and brother Andrew on the Angels bench, Romine was brought in as a defensive replacement for fellow top catching prospect Jesus Montero. Romine caught the final 3 innings as Mariano Rivera picked up his 599th career save.

In 2017 and 2018, Romine saw some extended playing time for the Yankees as the main back-up for starting catcher Gary Sanchez. He played 80 games the first year and 77 the second, hitting .218 with 2 homers and 21 RBIs the first year, and a solid .244 with 10 homers and 42 RBIs the second, a solid performance for a player who was on the roster first and foremost for his defensive skills. He saw some action in the postseason both years, although in 2018 it came in an unexpected role. In Game 3 of the ALDS on October 8th, the Yankees were already down 14-1 to the Boston Red Sox entering the top of the 9th, so manager Aaron Boone sent him to the mound for a stint of mop-up relief. It was his first pitching appearance in the majors - his brother Andrew had made a couple previously - and was only the second by a position player in postseason history. In his inning of work, he gave up a two-run homer to Brock Holt which incidentally allowed him to become the first player to hit for the cycle in the postseason.

On August 12, 2021, playing for the Chicago Cubs, he formed a battery with his brother Andrew, normally an infielder but who came in to pitch mop-up relief that day. It was the first brother battery in the major leagues since Norm Sherry and Larry Sherry in 1962.

Notable Achievements[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

  • Jordan Bastian: "Brother battery! Romine pitches to Romine: Andrew, Austin become first brothers together as pitcher, catcher in same game since 1962", mlb.com, August 12, 2021. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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