Austin Romine

Baseball career

Romine attended El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California, where he played on the school's baseball team with Nolan Arenado. He was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.

Going into the 2009 season, he was rated the Yankees' fourth best prospect and their second best prospect for 2010, according to Baseball America. In 2009, Romine was named Florida State League Player of the Year. In 2010, he was named as a participant in the All-Star Futures Game.

After competing for the big league backup catcher job in spring training, Romine was assigned to the Double-A Trenton Thunder to begin the 2011 season.

On September 1, 2011, Romine was called up to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees after playing with the Trenton Thunder that night as the team's designated hitter.

Less than two weeks later, Romine would make his major-league debut. After injuries to two catchers, first to Russell Martin and then Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees needed a replacement. When the team was unable to immediately reach Romine, manager Joe Girardi then asked another player, Romine's older brother Andrew, for help in contacting him. On September 10, while Austin was shopping with his girlfriend at a Walmart in Kentucky, Girardi called her cell phone and then told him about his call-up to the Yankees. The next morning, he traveled to California to join the team, which was then in a series with the Los Angeles Angels, and was officially added to the Yankees' 40-man roster. In the seventh inning of the game against the Angels, Romine made his major league debut behind the plate. On September 12, he got his first Major League hit off of Mariners reliever Dan Cortes.

Romine missed most of the 2012 season when he was diagnosed with two bulging discs in his back. When Francisco Cervelli suffered a broken hand on April 26, 2013, the Yankees promoted him to the major leagues. On August 4, 2013, Romine hit the first home run of his Major League career off of San Diego Padres pitcher Dale Thayer. He suffered a concussion on September 10, when he was hit in the mask by a foul ball.

Romine competed with Cervelli and John Ryan Murphy to be the backup catcher for the Yankees in 2014 spring training. Cervelli won the job, and Romine was optioned to the minor leagues. After first baseman Mark Teixeira was placed on the disabled list in April, Cervelli became the Yankees' temporary first baseman, and Romine was again called up to the Yankees' major league roster to back up everyday starter Brian McCann. Less than a week later, Romine was sent back down to make room for pitcher Shane Greene. Romine was called up to the majors on August 9, 2014 to replace Brian McCann who was placed on the 7 day disabled list with a concussion. On August 17, 2014, he was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton when McCann felt better. Romine was called up once more on September 6, 2014 to fill in for Francisco Cervelli, who suffered from a migraine headache at the time. Romine was called up in September when Cervelli got hurt, so he stayed with the club and was able to receive his September call-up when Cervelli returned.

Romine was designated for assignment on April 4, 2015. On April 8, 2015, he was outrighted from the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. The Yankees promoted Romine to the major leagues on September 1.

Personal

Romine's father, Kevin, played in the majors for the Boston Red Sox from 1985 to 1991. His brother, Andrew, plays for the Detroit Tigers.