Tracking 2008 4th Round LHP Josh Romanski, Now A Yankee Farmhand; Latest -- Finally, Some Backstory

[Mass Haas]

As Ricky Ricardo would tell Lucy, "someone's got some splainin' to do".

 

Similar to the thread we had in past years tracking the Linebrink three (Will Inman, Steve Garrison, and Joe Thatcher), this thread will track the results for and comments about the Brewers 2008 4th round pick, LHP Josh Romanski, who never threw a pitch for the Crew (he did appear as a DH in Pioneer League games in 2008).

 

Romanski was released this spring and almost immediately signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, as he didn't have to go the independent league route.

 

Never saw him pitch? You can in this video from his latest outing for the South Atlantic League's Charleston River Dogs (low-A), as he strikes out the side in an outing described below.

 

Charleston starter Josh Romanski threw 5.1 innings of scoreless ball in the no-decision, surrendering just two hits. The former University of San Diego Torero fanned a career-high eight hitters and walked three. The Corona, Calif. native has allowed no earned runs and surrendered just three hits, with 12 strikeouts, in his last two starts at Riley Park, spanning 11.1 total innings.

 

Here are his YTD stats after making five starts -- two were rough, particularly his first.

 

This April 21st Yankee blog post sums things up well --

 

Via BA’s minor league transactions, the Yankees have signed lefthander Josh Romanski, who was released by the Brewers within the last few weeks. The 23-year-old was Milwaukee’s fourth round pick in 2008, but he missed the 2009 season with Tommy John surgery. He’s probably best known for spending three years as the number two starter behind Brian Matusz at The University of San Diego.

I’ve been a fan of Romanski’s for quite some time, and even wrote him up as a potential draft target back in ‘08. I have no idea why the Brewers cut him after giving him a $247,000 signing bonus and footing the bill for his TJ rehab, but it’s the Yanks who benefit. It’s not every day that you can add a fourth round talent to your organization for basically nothing.

 

So basically this is just a bizarre situation. The Brewers have stood by dozens of Tommy John candidates over the past decade, guiding them back to the mound even if the potential for a big rebound was iffy for several.

 

So especially until we see a follow-up with comments from Gord Ash or Reid Nichlols via Tom H. or Adam McC (and you'll be able to guess which web site spurned their line of questioning http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif), it will be interesting to track Romanski's progress in this thread.

[HiAndTight]

Yeah, the fact that it's almost a 1 in a 100 shot he ever amounts to something is besides the point, why just waste the 300K you spent on him(at least 300 K).

 

Makes absolutely no sense.

 

We were high on this kid, there had to have been something there the medical staff didn't like or didn't think was right and didn't want to be responsible for.

 

Has to be SOMETHING else to this story. Not sure what yet though.

[Mass Haas]

Box Score
On Thursday night in the second game of a doubleheader, LHP Josh Romanski (2-2) picked up his first career road victory striking out a career-high tying eight batters and giving up six hits and two walks in five innings. The former University of San Diego Torero also stranded the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings. His only run allowed came on a home run.

***

We can't subscribe to everything here at Brewerfan, so I'm not aware of a Scout.com subscriber, although admittedly I haven't double-checked with the rest of our staff.

There is a June 20th article at Scout.com titled "Romanski Focused On His Health".

We're hopeful someone can summarize it for us, not copy and paste except for maybe a single quote or two, to see if we can learn more about his release from and brief time with the Brewers.

We do realize Romanski will be 24 in October, and right now he's facing low-A ball hitters, but he could move quickly.

At some point the Brewers came to a consensus decision to release him this spring. Hard to believe...

[Mass Haas]

Box Score

 

Romanski, RiverDogs Send Tourists Packing, Win 4-2 to Split Series

CHARLESTON, SC - Josh Romanski gave up just two earned runs in 7.0 full innings of work to lead the Charleston RiverDogs over the Asheville Tourists, 4-2, in front of 3,548 soaking wet fans in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Wednesday for Big Splash Day 2010.

 

With the victory Charleston improves to 6-8, 37-46 overall, while Asheville falls to 9-5, 38-45.

 

Romanski (3-2), who won his second straight, surrendered four hits in his 7.0 frames, with seven strikeouts and zero walks. The former University of San Diego Torero has fanned 23 batters in his last three starts combined.

 

Romanski had a perfect game through 3.0 innings, when Eliezer Mesa singled to open the fourth and moved into scoring position, when Romanski plunked Avery Barnes in the face, who was taken out of the game for pinch-runner Delta Cleary, Jr. Nolan Arenado's RBI groundout plated Mesa from third for the 1-0 lead.

 

"He made quality pitches, hit his spots and pitched well under pressure," said RiverDogs pitching coach Jeff Ware. "He did well today."

 

http://postandcourier.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/07/07/baseball_t600.jpg?4326734cdb8e39baa3579048ef63ad7b451e7676

[brewmann04]

Does anyone have a legit reason from the FO why they gave up on this kid when the Brewers lack all kinds of pitching depth.

This should really be looked into cause this is inexcusable.

[battlekow]

Romanski tonight: 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 11/3 GO/AO

[biedergb]

OK, I'll beat the dead horse again: does anyone have any partial knowledge of the whats/whys of his release?

It is odd it occurred after his treatment/recovery, and less than 2 years from being drafted! Granted he is a 23 year old college pitcher who is rightfully dominating A-ball. But still he is doing more than Frederickson or Cody Adams have done. Ughh.

[Mass Haas]

Josh Romanski just spun seven more top-notch innings for the Yankees' South Atlantic League farm club, allowing zero earned runs (two unearned) on four hits, just one walk, three strikeouts, while inducing three GIDP's.

 

Note: Romanski was brought out to begin the 8th inning with a 3-1 lead, but left after an error and a double. The reliever did a nice job, and only the unearned run was added to Josh's line.

 

It's Romanski's third consecutive outing of seven (or more) innings, allowing three earned runs coimbined in those 21.2 innings.

 

The southpaw topped out at 89-90 MPH, and displayed outstanding command to both sides of the plate. (It was one of the few MiLB audio links functioning this evening, apparently.)

 

MiLB.com's box scores are all hung as of this post time, but eventually you'll see his efforts detailed in the box score here.

 

We've initiated some conversations with those in the Charleston media and such, and hope to have some details on this mystery release (which is quickly becoming quite the embarrassment for the Brewers' front office) at some point.

 

***

 

We should point out that for every transaction like this, there usually is an obscure transaction success story such as John Axford or Brandon Kintzler. This thread isn't meant to shame the Brewers, but it's such an extreme case with so little sense to it, we've decided to highlight the proceedings.

[Mass Haas]

Romanski's line for 7/22:

 

5 IP, 4 H, 4 R (only one earned), 2 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP

 

Three ground ball singles, a costly error early in the four-run 2nd innng, and a catcher leaves the game after a home plate collision.

 

Lakewood Bottom 2nd

Micheal Dabbs grounds out, pitcher Josh Romanski to first baseman Luke Murton.

Stephen Batts reaches on fielding error by third baseman Robert Lyerly.

Jeremy Barnes walks. Stephen Batts to 2nd.

Anthony Hewitt singles on a ground ball to left fielder Neil Medchill. Stephen Batts scores. Jeremy Barnes to 2nd.

Alan Schoenberger singles on a ground ball to left fielder Neil Medchill. Jeremy Barnes to 3rd. Anthony Hewitt to 2nd.

With Jiwan James batting, wild pitch by Josh Romanski, Jeremy Barnes scores. Anthony Hewitt to 3rd. Alan Schoenberger to 2nd.

Jiwan James strikes out swinging.

Jonathan Villar singles on a ground ball to center fielder Slade Heathcott. Anthony Hewitt scores. Alan Schoenberger scores.

Defensive Substitution: Hector Rabago replaces catcher Kyle Higashioka, batting 7th, playing catcher.

With Jonathan Singleton batting, Jonathan Villar steals (35) 2nd base.

Jonathan Singleton grounds out, third baseman Robert Lyerly to first baseman Luke Murton.

LAKEWOOD, NJ - After scoring just nine runs in their last four games, all losses, the Lakewood BlueClaws offense finally awakened Thursday night as Lakewood pounded the Charleston RiverDogs 10-1.

Lakewood (16-10) jumped ahead in the second inning, plating four against Charleston starter Josh Romanski (5-3), who had allowed just five runs in his last 26 2/3 innings and won four starts in a row.

 

With one out Stephen Batts reached on an error by third baseman Rob Lyerly, Jeremy Barnes walked, and Anthony Hewitt picked up an RBI single to make it 1-0.

 

Schoenberger then singled, and Barnes scored on a wild pitch. Jonathan Villar's two-out two-run single pushed the lead to 4-0.

[trwi7]

If he was caught up in drugs, don't you think MILB would've suspended him?

 

Also, if that was true, don't you think they would keep him anyways and help him with treatment like they did with Jeffress?

 

Just looking like an incredibly stupid decision by the Brewers.

[twobrewers]

It is a very odd move. It is also odd that Haudricourt and McCalvy haven't posted any answers.

 

Without any inside information, I'd guess that Haudricourt and/or McCalvy looked into the matter. The Brewers probably told them something off the record, and McCalvy and Haudricourt can't comment on that matter. I highly doubt the Brewers would just dump a player without cause. (All while allowing McCleary to pitch in the organization) Hence, my theory that there is likely a reason that the Brewers would perfer not to address.

 

Has anyone emailed Haudricourt or McCalvy and asked them for any information?

 

Maybe he slept with Melvin's daughter?

[SoCalBrewfan]

Well, Axford was a Yankee farmhand and they dumped him, so if it helps you sleep better, just pretend we traded Romanski for Axford. (Though I've also wondered why Romanski was let go so quickly.)

[Mass Haas]

Kind of a "get me through six innings" for Josh in today's matinee -- box score.

 

Only his second game with more than two walks, but the 59-to-14 K-to-BB ratio in 64.2 IP is still strong.

 

Still trying to find a Yankee blog post where they lament losing Axford, surely it's out there somewhere. As of now, it's a great trade, but the point is, you could have both, right? Let's not pretend to compare the two right now or any time soon, though.

 

Love the Ax-man.

[Mass Haas]

Latest effort from Romanski -- wins can be fleeting, but Josh is now 7-3 in 12 starts (stats)

 

Monday's box score line -- 6 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

 

Four of his last five starts have been on the road -- waiting for that next home game start, when we might get more insight from any local media coverage...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Romanski getting second chance

By KEVIN PEARSON, Special to The Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise

After two years of sitting on a bench and watching other people live his dream, Josh Romanski can finally appreciate the joy he gets every time he steps onto a pitcher's mound.

 

For the first two years of his professional career, Romanski was not afforded that opportunity. A highly rated fourth-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, his career stalled before it ever really got started because of two serious injuries.

 

But now, after being released by the Brewers and signed by the Yankees in what he described as a much-needed fresh start, Romanski truly has found happiness whenever he enters his windup.

 

"I've been in some interesting places mentally over the past two years," said Romanski, a former star pitcher and outfielder at Norco High who was the 2005 Riverside County Player of the Year. "It feels good to be back on the field and competing again.

 

"I don't think I realized how much I loved the game of baseball until I was able to get back on the field after the injuries and really just soak it up. Hopefully I'll be able to play this game for a long time now, because I really enjoy doing it."

 

It's a feeling that for too long was replaced by the pain Romanski felt in his body.

 

After an All-America career at the University of San Diego, Romanski signed with the Brewers for a $247,000 bonus. But almost as soon as he arrived at rookie-level Helena (Mont.), Romanski needed surgery for a hernia. He didn't throw a pitch that season but did have 15 at-bats as designated hitter.

 

In 2009, Romanski entered spring training figuring to be among the top prospects in the lower levels of the Brewers' farm system, but he failed to escape spring training without another serious injury. A lingering elbow injury from his college days turned out to be a stress fracture in his pitching elbow. He had a pin put in to stabilize the joint, leaving him out for the season.

 

"When you get hurt and miss a lot of time like that, especially with me missing the season before, you really take a step back and look at everything," Romanski said.

"You question yourself and wonder if baseball is going to be for you."

 

While Romanski believed baseball was for him, the Brewers thought it was time to move on.

 

"He knows it was part of baseball," said Romanski's father, Andy. "He's worked extremely hard to get himself back on the field, but that's how Josh has always been."

 

Romanski was released after spring training this year, even though the club had invested a quarter-million dollars and two surgeries in him and he was finally healthy.

 

Romanski went back to Norco and, during a high school tournament this year, threw a bullpen session for some area scouts. The Yankees liked what they saw, and by the end of the week he was on a plane to extended spring training in Tampa, Fla.

 

Since arriving in the low-Class A South Atlantic League in June, Romanski has fared well on the mound. His fastball is back in the low 90s. His curveball is still sharp and complements his cutter and change-up.

 

"It looks like he hasn't missed a beat," said Charleston manager Greg Colbrunn, a former major leaguer who hails from Fontana. "His presence and his ability to pitch inside has stood out. He doesn't nibble. He goes after the hitters."

 

Romanski's long-term future could be as a starter or as a lefty specialist, but for now he is being left in the rotation in order to get experience. The Yankees did extensive research on his medical history before signing him and had no reservations, having considered drafting him.

 

"He has all the weapons to be a starter because he can change speeds," said Mark Newman, the Yankees' senior vice president of baseball operations. "He can't say 'It's 2-0, here it is, try and hit this,' because he doesn't throw 96. But there are a lot of guys who have success with his kind of fastball because they can locate both sides of the plate and hitters have a difficult time reading them. Josh is well down that road right now."

 

But for Romanski, the road he is trying to travel down is just beginning, even if it's the second attempt at that journey.

 

"Every time I get on the mound, I want to go after it," Romanski said. "I want to throw my best game every single time. Not that it wasn't like that before, but I think I have a mental edge when I take the mound because of where I've been the last two years. Now it's time to get on the mound and go after it until they don't let me anymore."

 

2008 Photo / University of San Diego

Josh Romanski, a college All-American, is now with the Yankees' Class A Charleston team after being released by the Brewers.

 

http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2010/07-19/romanskib_300.jpg

[CheezWizHed]

I can't believe this thread still has life...

 

I'm as puzzled as anyone that the Brewers cut Romanski, especially considering their need to find SPs. But seems like we keep pulling the scab off the wound here...

 

Can't we just track this in the alum thread with all the others that "got away"?

[Mass Haas]

I can't believe this thread still has life...

 

I'm as puzzled as anyone that the Brewers cut Romanski, especially considering their need to find SPs. But seems like we keep pulling the scab off the wound here...

 

Can't we just track this in the alum thread with all the others that "got away"?

There is a commitment to follow this thread through for the full 2010 season, similar to what we did for the Will Inman / Steve Garrison / Joe Thatcher thread (actually, we tracked them for a season and a half before they "graduated" only to the alumni thread). So for about five more starts, we'll be providing detailed updates. Next year, there will only be a mention if there is significant news. Feel free to bypass the thread until it fades away this fall.

 

I do find it a bit ironic in that we finally see some quotes and such in the most recent update, and that becomes the time you question the thread's current validity. No need to reply, I see your point of view, as hopefully you do likewise.

 

And actually, I probably will place a post in the Alumni thread later on as to who really qualifies as "one that got away". It's a very tiny number -- maybe two players at most qualify in my mind, and it's way too early (by about four years) to say Romanski is one.

[Tedaldtada]

Reminds me of a lefty Will Inman. IMO, guys like Fiers and Burgos are better prospects. I chose those two because, like Josh, they are on the older side.

[Mass Haas]

In his latest outing, Romanski took a no-decision, allowing one run, scattering seven hits over five full innings, with a walk and six punchouts, including five of the final six batters he faced.

 

Box

[Mass Haas]

Seven strong innings and a win for Romanski (one earned run through six, then two runs allowed in the 7th while pitching with a big lead), thanks to the Yankees' 2009 2nd round pick driving in nine runs.

 

[Mass Haas]

The beat goes on (box score) for the lefty Romanski (YTD stats), although his offense did him no favors.

 

I thought perhaps with so many opportunities to speak with Bruce Seid over the past week re: the Dylan Covey non-signing, and with him singing the praises on the early work of guys like Nelson, Thornburg, and Miller, that someone in the mainstream media would have broached the Romanski subject with Seid or others in the front office.

 

The folks I have heard from on this will only say that the organization wishes Josh well.

 

Oh well, as duly noted above, next April, Josh will simply blend into the Alumni thread.

[Never Outhustled]

Its just tough to believe they had a spot for Andy Sauter, but not Romanski.

[Mass Haas]

The Yankees have promoted LHP Josh Romanski to high-A Tampa.

 

Tampa is scheduled to play at Brevard on Tuesday thru Thursday in a big series this coming week (Stephen C. Smith has audio for the Wednesday game the 25th).

 

However, it appears as though Romanski will be needed by the Yankees as part of a doubleheader on his normal pitching day Monday. If he's pushed by a day, he'd face the Manatees to open the series Tuesday, which would be fun.

[HiAndTight]

I wonder if we'll hear something a couple years down the road as to why he was released or if it was just as simple as the Brewers just blowing it.

 

We're really just beating our head into the wall trying to figure out why they'd possibly show such little patience with this guy when they've shown so much with others and there was seemingly no reason to rush to just a drastic decision.

 

Hindsight's 20-20....which is why you usually seem teams exhaust every opportunity with a prospect before releasing them.

[jjfanec]

The Brewers high A boys from Brevard knocked Romanski out in the first inning.

Romanski 1 IP 4 hits 3 ER 2 BB 1 K