Jupiter: Avery Romero, 2B/SS

[tjfla]

Discuss

[Ralph]

4/11/12: Avery Romero might be the biggest non-injury wildcard among the top 50 picks in the draft this year (we’re excluding RHP Lucas Giolito, LHP Matt Smoral and a few others from wildcard status for this statement). He’s getting strong talk as a potential first round pick, as in veteran scouts saying things like, “Don’t be surprised at all when Avery Romero goes higher than lots of those other Florida high school guys you talk about so much.” No one at Perfect Game will be too surprised and many will be thrilled if Romero is indeed picked in the first round. He’s been to over 20 Perfect Game events since 2008 and is the type of player who absolutely loves to play baseball and it shows at all times. If there is a game to be played, he’s the type who will be there going 100-percent and not worrying about who’s watching or what might happen to his draft stock. He’s a yard rat with floppy hair, a dirty uniform and a smile on his face that hides his intense competitiveness boiling underneath. Romero is also much closer to 5-foot-10 than his listed 6-foot, 200-pound size, at least per the official measurements given at events such as the East Coast Pro and Area Code Games last summer. Not that scouts didn’t know that already. Plus, Romero ran the 60 at two events during 2011 and recorded times of 7.43 and 7.51. Scouts knew that already as well. Those are not measurables that usually result in an 18-year old getting picked at the top of the draft. Romero has two major things going for him, though, that override those measurables. He is one of the best hitters in the 2012 class and has proven that many times over a multi-year period against the top pitching in the country. He has excellent bat speed from the right side, with the shortness to his swing to square up high velocity pitching and the strength to drive and lift the ball. Romero is aggressive almost to a fault in his swing approach and hits with a confidence that you see in hitters who end up being successful at the big league level. Looking at three reports/sets of notes over a two-month period, it’s easy to get a feel for Romero’s hitting ability and style of play: From the 2011 Perfect Game National: Avery Romero is a 2012 MIF with a 6-0 190 lb. frame from St. Augustine, FL who attends Pedro Menendez HS. Very solid athletic build, thick lower half, strong all over. Smooth infield actions, very strong arm with accuracy, soft hands, lacks lower half quickness, profiles best as a catcher if not at third base. Aggressive right handed swing, gets loaded and ready, recognizes pitches, full swing with very good bat speed, will drift/dive in on occasion, can lift and pull the ball or drive it to RCF, ball jumps hard on contact, high level hitting tools. Plays the game hard and enjoys himself. Good student, verbal commitment to Florida. Notes from the 2011 East Coast Pro Showcase: Plus hitter, consistently good at bats and swings, showed his power, + barrel, played 2B well on D, charged hard, played quick and under control Notes from the 2011 Area Code Games: Put on hitting clinic, crushed ball in BP, crushed ball in games, showed power and lift, can hit any pitching, charges very well, plays hard and has fun. There’s a point as a scout when you have seen the fundamentals and mechanics and tools enough and you just watch the big picture. After watching Romero about a dozen times over the years, by the Area Code Games all that was needed to do was watch him play. Most scouts are in that position with Romero. The other thing that Romero has going for him is that his physical tools and make up/personality profile absolutely perfectly to playing catcher. He’s an aggressive, intelligent 5-foot-10, 200-pound athlete with lower body strength, one-spot quickness, 90 mph arm strength, soft hands and a potent bat. Scouts have realized this for as long as they’ve been closely following Romero. It’s an open topic with the staff at University of Florida, where Romero has signed to play his college ball if he doesn’t turn pro. It’s something that Perfect Game has been talking about for some time. It is also something that until recently, according to scouts, that Romero and his family have resisted to even consider. However, Romero has reportedly worked out behind the plate for at least a couple of teams this spring and shown exactly what scouts expected to see; quick reactions, plus arm strength, pop times in the 1.8s, raw overall mechanics and a huge potential ceiling. He will be significant demand for him to continue to work out with clubs individually before the draft on June 4. Catcher is the most difficult position on the baseball field for a reason, and if a player wants to play at second base or third base for as long as possible before making the change, one can hardly blame them. If Romero were to embrace his almost inevitable shift to don the tools of ignorance immediately, it could mean a seven-figure payday for him in June. If he resists, it could result in an All-American career at Florida and perhaps even a Buster Posey-type of transformation in college. That kind of uncertainty and speculation is what makes the multi-talented Romero such a wildcard.

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/p...aspx?ID=232573

[tjfla]

Some teams consider him a 2B/3B and others a C

BA ranked him #79-so good value for us

http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.c...enendez-hs-fl/

[emkayseven]

5'11" 195lbs DOB: 05/11/93 | Scouting Video

A shortstop in high school, most believe Romero will have to move to another position at the next level because he lacks the quickness to stay at short. He is not without defensive skills, though, with an outstanding arm and decent hands. How a team projects his bat might determine his defensive home as well as where he goes in the Draft. Those who see above-average power might put him at third and take him early. Or he could be more of an offensive-minded second baseman who hits for average and a little pop.

per MLB

[Ralph]

I hope they try him at C similar to what they did with Realmuto.

[Bucklin12]

BA had them ranked 79th on their list. Seems like a solid pick.

[emkayseven]

Menendez graduate Avery Romero has been selected in the third round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft. Romero was taken by the Miami Marlins today with the 104th pick overall.

Romero was The Record’s Player of the Year in 2011 and was an All-State selection as a freshman in 2009. As a senior this year, Romero hit .405 with five home runs and 18 RBIs. He had just worked out for the Marlins in Miami on Thursday.

Now Romero and his family will decide whether to sign with the Marlins or play college baseball at Florida.

According to Baseball America, Romero’s pick is slotted to receive $458,400 as a signing bonus, but the figure is somewhat flexible. He has until July 13 to sign.

Romero played second base and shortstop for the Falcons, but many scouts see his professional position as second, third or maybe even catcher because of his strong arm.

http://staugustine.com/sports/2012-0...rafted-marlins

maybe he'll get Realmuto'd

[tjfla]

Callis also has a tweet that say we might not sign Romero either

One more Heaney thought: If #Marlins don't sign him, may not be able to sign 3rd-rder Avery Romero either. #mlbdraft

[Bucklin12]

Signed

conorglassey @conorglassey
Avery Romero signed with the #Marlins for $700,000 #mlbdraft

[emkayseven]

Although it took a month of waiting, Menendez baseball star Avery Romero got exactly what he wanted from the Miami Marlins on Friday.

Romero was one of several prospects to sign a deal just before the deadline set by Major League Baseball. The third-round pick signed just prior to the 5 p.m. deadline for all players selected in this year’s First-Year Player Draft. Romero’s signing bonus is $700,000, which is well above the slotted amount of $458,400 and could explain why the agreement came so late.

Earlier in the day, the Marlins reached an agreement with their top draft pick, pitcher Andrew Heaney, for $2.6 million, which was $200,000 below the slot amount.

“Even in the first week of negotiations, this looked like it was going down to the end,” Romero said. “Either way, I was going to be happy.”

Romero had already signed with the University of Florida and was prepared to play for the Gators. He was already taking classes in the summer session.

However, the main goal for Romero is to eventually play in the major leagues, so he clearly wanted to get a deal done if the Marlins were truly committed to him.

They proved they are.

“It definitely worked out for the best for me,” he said. “Of course, we’d all like to have gotten it done on the first day, but I’m just happy I’ll get to play baseball every day.”

Now that the contract is signed, Romero said he’ll report to Jupiter on Sunday and join Miami’s Gulf Coast League team. The GCL is rookie level and made up mostly of players making their professional debuts.

At this point, Romero doesn’t know much about the organization’s plans for him beyond next week. But the fact that the Marlins were willing to meet his salary demands demonstrates their confidence in his ability.

“They definitely project my bat to move quickly through the system,” he said.

Should he advance to the AA level at some point, Romero would get to play close to home with the Jacksonville Suns. Also, the Marlins’ advanced-A club is the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League, which has teams as close as Brevard County.

Playing in front of family and friends would be a fun bonus, but Romero said he is most concerned about playing the game he loves and impressing his new bosses.

“Whenever you get to this level, it’s got to be something you love,” Romero said. “Now I can just go out and play. That’s what I enjoy anyway.”

http://staugustine.com/sports/2012-0...-just-deadline

[emkayseven]

Avery Romero made the Miami Marlins’ recent investment in him look good in his professional debut Tuesday.

The third-round draft pick signed for $700,000 just before the deadline for draft prospects reach contract agreements on Friday.

Assigned to the Gulf Coast League Marlins, Romero was 3 for 4 in his first game.

“It was good to come out and have a good first game,” Romero said. “To get the first game out of the way, it was great to work out like it did.”

Starting at second base, Romero ignited a two-out rally in the top of the ninth that led the Marlins to a 5-4 comeback victory over the GCL Nationals in Brevard County. Down 4-2 in the top of the ninth, Romero’s third hit of the game was a double off Inocencio Heredia. After a walk to David Cruz, Pedro Acosta blasted a pinch-hit home run to put the Marlins ahead 5-4.

Batting fifth, Romero reached base four times. He was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance and singled in his first official at-bat.

After striking out in the fifth, Romero singled again in the seventh before finishing with the ninth-inning double.

The GCL Marlins will play at the GCL Astros at noon today in Kissimmee. The season runs through Aug. 25.

http://staugustine.com/sports/2012-0...baseball-debut

[Ramp]

He's got that clutch gene
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speaking of.... let's make our own jeans company called Clutch Jeans... think it would go over big in the baseball community

[tjfla]

He played SS today

[emkayseven]

104) Avery Romero, 2B-3B, Miami Marlins: Hitting just .204/.285/.324 with eight walks, 18 strikeouts in 108 at-bats in GCL. No bat so far, but playing well on defense.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/...rd-round-picks

[oakelmpine]

article on 2012 draft pick Avery Romero

http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/2/7/...o-new-position