Alex Romero
| AB | 280 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .239 |
| OBP | .279 |
| SLG | .339 |
| HR | 2 |
- Full name Alexander Rafael Romero
- Born 09/09/1983 in Maracaibo, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 198 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School U.E. Dr Jose Enrique Arreaza
- Debut 04/02/2008
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Romero came up through the Twins system but got bumped off the 40-man roster after the 2006 season, so the Diamondbacks snatched him up on waivers. He posted career-best numbers in several categories in 2007, and again was one of the toughest batters to strike out in his league. But he didn't earn a callup at the end of the season because fellow waiver pickup Jeff Salazar was a little better than him in just about every area. Romero has a good approach at the plate and clearly is adept at making contact, though he could take more walks. He can play all three outfield positions, though he's best suited for a corner, but he doesn't have enough power to profile as a regular there. With Romero's all-around skills and switch-hitting ability, yet the lack of one dominant tool, he profiles as an ideal fourth outfielder. With the depth in Arizona's outfield, however, it's not clear he'll get that opportunity with the Diamondbacks. -
Romero has the best tools among a trio of similar Twins minor league outfielders. Like Trent Oeltjen and Garrett Guzman, he has ability in all five tools and has had success at Double-A. None projects to have enough power to start at a corner spot for a championship big league team. Guzman, may have the best power of the group. Oeltjen, an Olympic silver medalist for Australia in 2004, is the most well-rounded but has the lowest ceiling. The Twins still like Romero's upside the best, though he's more of a tweener at this stage than a regular. He opened 2006 in Triple-A and couldn't build on the success he had in 2005, when he set career highs in homers and slugging percentage. Romero is tough to strike out and still runs well, and as a switch-hitter and competent defender in both corners, he has an excellent chance to be a fourth outfielder. Romero was regaining momentum in the Venezuelan League, and he could join Guzman and Oelten in the Rochester outfield in 2007. -
This isn't what the Twins were expecting when they signed Romero at age 16 out of Venezuela, but they'll take it. As he has added strength and bulk, particularly in his lower half, he has lost the speed portion of his game. He still takes too many risks on the bases, however, as he apparently failed to get the memo. His ability to put the bat on the ball more than makes up for any shortcomings, and he's a switch-hitter to boot. Romero owns a career .306 average despite a reputation as a bad-ball hitter. He more than doubled his previous career high with 15 homers in 2005, and his strikeouts jumped as well. His work ethic and hustle improved last summer after an early-season talk with minor league field coordinator Joe Vavra. Romero projects as a No. 6 hitter, though some believe he could mature into a No. 3 in time. He's an average defender with average arm strength in left field. He should move up to Triple-A in 2006 and could make his big league debut later in the year. -
Romero has evolved into a different player than the Twins envisioned when they signed him at age 16 out of Venezuela. He has added strength and thickness, especially in his lower half. He doesn't run well anymore, sacrificing plus speed for more sock at the plate, and no longer has the range to play center field. Romero has continued to hit, however. A switch hitter, he owns a career .308 average as a pro. He shows good patience at the plate and has walked at least as much as he has struck out in each of his four seasons. Now primarily a right fielder, he does have good instincts and an average arm. Romero still lacks the sort of power production teams look for on the corners, which leaves him as a classic 'tweener. He should move up to Double-A in 2005. -
Romero finished fifth in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League batting race in his pro debut, hitting .347 as a third baseman. He moved to the outfield when he came to the United States and has continued to impress over the last two years. It took Romero a while in 2003 to get acclimated to the low Class A Midwest League, his first experience playing in cold weather, but he rebounded after hitting .149 in April. When he signed he was more of a slashing-style hitter, but he since has added strength and thickness to his frame, helping him to drive the ball with more regularity. Because he has such a good idea of the strike zone, he has an advantage over many of his peers. There's still a wide range of opinion within the organization on Romero's potential, however. The question is where he profiles, as he isn't a pure center fielder and doesn't have the juice to start on a corner. He does display good instincts in the outfield and his routes are already more direct to the ball than Denard Span's. Romero has a solid-average arm and plus speed. Romero was one of the top rookies in the Venezuelan winter league, and he should step forward as he moves up to high Class A in 2004. -
The Twins are loaded with outfield depth, and Romero is the low man on the totem pole in terms of experience. But scouts agree he has a chance to move up fast when he gets to show his stuff outside of Rookie ball. Signed by Venezuelan scout Jose Leon, Romero finished fifth in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League in hitting in 2001 before finishing fourth in the Gulf Coast League last year. His advanced approach at the plate is unusual for his age, and the Twins thought enough of his maturity to send him to winter ball as one of the youngest players in Venezuela over the winter. International scouts there were impressed with Romero's presence and his tools, which consist of above-average wheels he uses well in center field, a plus arm and a line-drive bat with gap power. Romero's projects to have plus tools across the board except for his speed, which will regress as he gets stronger. While Romero has the instincts to play center field, he'll likely outgrow the position and move to right field. He'll get his first taste of full-season ball in Quad City this year, where he'll try to maintain his .340 career average.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Romero has a chance to become a complete player. He hit a solid .333 and particularly impressed managers with his outfield play. There may not have been a better defensive center fielder in the league and certainly not in the Southern Division. "He gets great jumps and can really go get it," Caceres said. "He's got great instincts in the outfield and also on the bases, but he runs with a long stride so he won't be a basestealer." A scrappy lefthanded hitter, Romero sprays the ball to all fields. It's expected that he'll add power down the road.
