Andrew Romine Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1262
AVG	.233
OBP	.288
SLG	.3
HR	11

Full name Andrew James Romine
Born 12/24/1985 in Winter Haven, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Arizona State
Debut 09/24/2010
Drafted in the 5th round (178th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2007 (signed for $128,700).

View Draft Report

As much talent as Arizona State could put into this draft--with Smith, Sogard, Spencer and Andrew Romine all possible third- to sixth-round picks--the 2008 team will make more of an impact, both in terms of current sophomores (such as first baseman Brett Wallace and catcher Petey Parramore) and recruits (too many to mention). Romine could be part of that Sun Devils squad unless a team strongly believes in his bat, because if he falls far in the draft he would likely end up coming back as a senior. He's a premium defender in a year short on those in the college crop, with excellent arm strength and accuracy to go with good hands and range. Offensively, he has little power (.382 slugging) and had to rally to get over .300. He runs well (leading the team with 18 stolen bases), controls the strike zone and handles the bat, but at his best he profiles as a No. 8 or No. 9 hitter. The son of ex-Red Sox outfielder Kevin Romine needs to add strength, some of which he lost due to surgery in January 2006 to have a rib removed. Romine had thoracic outlet syndrome, which led to a blood clot in his shoulder.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Romine comes from a baseball family. His father Kevin played for the Red Sox for seven seasons, while his brother Austin is a Yankees catching prospect who has played briefly in the big leagues. Andrew has had short stints in the majors in each of the last three seasons, thanks to his defensive ability. He's a quality shortstop who can play anywhere in the infield with his solid range, clean hands and plus arm with tremendous accuracy from an over-the-top slot. He's an excellent decision-maker in the field and has a knack for taking advantage of baserunners' mistakes. Romine's athleticism works well in the field but doesn't carry over to the batter's box. He gave up switch-hitting last year to bat exclusively lefthanded, but the results weren't noticeably different. Romine has good hand-eye coordination and strong hands, but his bat speed is fringy, his power is limited and he doesn't hit the ball hard. He has a simple, no-stride approach yet deviates from his plan at the plate too often. He's an average runner and bunts well. With Maicer Izturis signing with the Blue Jays as a free agent in the offseason, the door is open for Romine to show he can fill a utility spot at the big league level.
Romine's younger brother Austin made his big league debut with the Yankees in September, a year after Andrew first appeared in the majors with the Angels. Their father Kevin spent seven seasons in the big leagues with the Red Sox. Andrew has strong middle-infield defensive skills with average range, speed and arm strength at shortstop, but he hasn't grown much as an offensive player. He hits for a decent average, draws walks and steals his share of bases, but his power is nonexistent. He slugged .346 in extremely hitter-friendly conditions in Salt Lake last year. He comes up short in strength and bat speed, rarely squaring up the ball. His saving grace is that he's a switch-hitter who can handle the bat from the left side, reaching base at a .371 clip as a lefty during the past two seasons in the minors. Romine could fit with a club that needs a proficient defender to back up shortstop as well as second and third base, but his below-average bat limits his ceiling. He'll team up with Alexi Amarista in the Salt Lake middle infield again in 2012.
When Erick Aybar, Alberto Callaspo and Maicer Izturis all went down with injuries in late September, the Angels called on Romine, who had been readying to travel to Puerto Rico to play in the Pan Am qualifying tournament with Team USA. In getting the call to the big leagues, he arrived before his younger brother Austin, a promising catching prospect in the Yankees system who, like Andrew, was drafted in 2007 and spent 2010 in Double-A. Their father Kevin spent seven seasons in the majors with the Red Sox. The Angels don't expect miracles from Romine's bat--his career minor league slugging percentage (.361) barely edges his on-base percentage (.352)--but he switch-hits, makes contact, works the count, can bunt and is an excellent baserunner with solid speed. The Angels emphasized a shorter path to the ball this season, but even still he's strictly No. 9 hitter material until he proves he can handle being pounded inside with fastballs. It's Romine's defensive ability that will keep him in the picture. He's a potential Gold Glove shortstop because of his plus athleticism, hands and instincts. His throws are accurate and strong. He led TL shortstops with a .974 fielding percentage last year, and managers rated him the league's best defender at the position. Romine is ticketed for Triple-A this season.
Baseball is in Romine's blood. His father Kevin spent seven seasons as a reserve outfielder for the Red Sox, while his younger brother Austin is a promising catching prospect in the Yankees system. Andrew succeeded Dustin Pedroia as Arizona State's shortstop, and since turning pro he has shown strong defensive chops while mixing in a dash of plate discipline and speed. A switch-hitter, he has more power and is more selective from the left side. But that power is relative--he has hit just three home runs in his two years of full-season ball, and only one in the high-octane California League. He improved from the right side last season, keeping his bat in the zone longer and better covering the outer half of the plate. Romine paced the Midwest League with 62 stolen bases in 2008 and is an above-average runner. In the field, he has plus actions, hands, range and plenty of arm strength for shortstop. The Angels don't expect Romine to be better than a fringe-average hitter, but his premium defensive tools, speed and feel for situational hitting will keep him alive as a prospect. He'll move to Double-A in 2010.
Romine is part of a baseball family that includes his father Kevin, who played parts of seven seasons in the majors, and his brother Austin, who could be the Yankees' catcher of the future. The two brothers were both 2007 draft picks--Austin went in the second round, three rounds earlier than Andrew--and spent their first full pro seasons in low Class A. Andrew led the Midwest League with 62 stolen bases and ranked second with 79 runs, though there are still questions about his bat. He's a switch-hitter who offers little power and needs to improve from the right side. He makes good contact but doesn't draw an excessive amount of walks, as pitchers aren't afraid to challenge him. Though he has plus speed, he still must improve his basestealing technique after getting caught 18 times last year. Romine, who succeeded Dustin Pedroia as Arizona State's shortstop, is a fine defender. He has above-average actions, range, hands and arm strength, and he makes accurate throws. Romine will be 23 this season, so the Angels may try to get him to Double-A at some point.
In a 2007 draft that was thin on competent college infielders, Romine might have been a steal in the fifth round. He's the son of former Arizona State all-American and seven-year major league outfielder Kevin Romine, and his brother Austin signed with the Yankees as a second-rounder last year. Andrew was drafted in the 36th round by the Phillies in 2004, but instead succeeded Dustin Pedroia as Arizona State's shortstop. Romine signed for $128,700 last June as a fifth-rounder. He's a high-energy player who has plus range, hands and actions to go along with the ability to make the spectacular play. His arm is plus and precise, prompting Angels scouting guru Tom Kotchman to say, "He probably has a bunch of stuffed animals at his house from winning stuff at the fair." Romine posted meager .300/.390/.380 numbers with a metal bat last spring in college, and his offensive package is modest. He sticks to the little-man's game well, showing plus barrel control and bunting skills. He needs to add strength, some of which he lost due to surgery in January 2006 to have a rib removed, and he doesn't drive the ball. His righthanded swing is littered with holes, while he stays inside the ball and shows some snap in his wrist from the left side. He batted .188/.188/.250 from the right side in his debut. Romine is a plus runner who goes from first to third well. His defense and mature approach make him a candidate to move quickly, though he'll never be much more than a No. 8 or 9 hitter in a big league lineup. He'll likely start the season in the Midwest League.

Minor League Top Prospects

Romine's father Kevin was a major league outfielder and his brother Austin is a catcher whom the Yankees drafted in the second round in June. Andrew is a slick-fielding shortstop with excellent range and a solid arm that's tremendously accurate. As Orem manager Tom Kotchman put it, "He probably has a bunch of stuffed animals at his house from winning stuff at the fair." The biggest question with Romine is whether he'll hit well enough to reach the majors. He's a gap-to-gap hitter who doesn't have much power. A switch-hitter, he's far more proficient as a lefthander (.323/.389/.497 in the Pioneer League) than from the right side (.188/.188/.250). He has good speed and runs the bases well.