Josh Romanski
Encyclopedia
Joshua Michael Romanski (born October 18, 1986) is a minor league baseball
pitcher
in the New York Yankees
organization.
in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
. Though Romanski and the Padres negotiated towards the signing deadline, the two parties could not reach an agreement, and Romanski enrolled at the University of San Diego
. Playing for the San Diego Toreros baseball team, Romanski established himself as a two-way threat, as a pitcher
and outfielder
. Collegiate Baseball named him a Freshman All-American and he won the West Coast Conference
(WCC) Freshman of the Year Award.
As a sophomore, Romanski was named a second-team All-American and first-team All-WCC. That summer, he played in the 2007 Pan American Games
and 2007 World Port Tournament
with Toreros teammate Brian Matusz
. In his junior year, Romanski hit .324 and was 9-1 with a 4.00 ERA. He was first-team All-WCC and threw a no-hitter against the Harvard Crimson baseball team. Baseball America
and Louisville Slugger named him a third-team All-American.
drafted Romanski in the 4th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
. After playing in four games for the Rookie-level Helena Brewers
in 2008, Romanski missed the 2009 season with an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery
. The Brewers released Romanski, and he signed with the New York Yankees
as a minor league free agent in April 2010.
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in 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...
organization.
Amateur career
Romanski was drafted by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 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...
. Though Romanski and the Padres negotiated towards the signing deadline, the two parties could not reach an agreement, and Romanski enrolled at the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
. Playing for the San Diego Toreros baseball team, Romanski established himself as a two-way threat, as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. Collegiate Baseball named him a Freshman All-American and he won the West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
(WCC) Freshman of the Year Award.
As a sophomore, Romanski was named a second-team All-American and first-team All-WCC. That summer, he played in the 2007 Pan American Games
Baseball at the 2007 Pan American Games
Baseball at the 2007 Pan American Games took place at Cidade do Rock which received temporary facilities for baseball competitions, with a stadium and training fields...
and 2007 World Port Tournament
2007 World Port Tournament
The 2007 World Port Tournament was an international baseball competition held at the DOOR Neptunus Familiestadion in Rotterdam, The Netherlands from August 2–12, 2007...
with Toreros teammate Brian Matusz
Brian Matusz
Brian Robert Matusz is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles in the American League.-College:...
. In his junior year, Romanski hit .324 and was 9-1 with a 4.00 ERA. He was first-team All-WCC and threw a no-hitter against the Harvard Crimson baseball team. 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...
and Louisville Slugger named him a third-team All-American.
Professional career
The Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
drafted Romanski in the 4th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
. After playing in four games for the Rookie-level Helena Brewers
Helena Brewers
The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...
in 2008, Romanski missed the 2009 season with an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
. The Brewers released Romanski, and he signed with 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...
as a minor league free agent in April 2010.
Personal
The same day he was drafted by the Brewers, Romanski's mother was diagnosed with breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.