Salvatore J. Romano (born October 12, 1993) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...

, and

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...

Early life

Romano was born in

Syosset, New York Syosset (also known as Little East Woods or Locust Grove) is a hamlet and census-designated place in the Town of Oyster Bay, in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 19,259 at the 202 ...

, and raised in

Southington, Connecticut Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, it had a population of 43,501. Southington contains the villages of Marion, Milldale, and Plantsville. Geography Southington is situa ...

. He attended Southington High School and played for the school's baseball team. He was the Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2011, his senior year.

Career

Cincinnati Reds

The

selected Romano in the 23rd round of the

2011 Major League Baseball draft The 2011 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the first ...

. He signed with the Reds rather than play

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...

for the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state, ...

. He had moved to

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Tennessee, Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Di ...

, and taken two courses before he signed with the Reds just before the August 17 signing deadline. After signing, Romano made his professional debut with the

Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Billings, Montana, and have played their home games at Dehler ...

and he spent the whole season there, going 5–6 with a 5.32 ERA in 15 starts. He spent 2013 with the

Dayton Dragons The Dayton Dragons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Dayton, Ohio, and play their home games at Day Air Ballpark, formerly known as Fifth Third Field. In 2 ...

where he compiled a 7–11 record and 4.86 ERA in 15 starts, and he returned there in 2014, going 8–11 with a 4.12 ERA in 28 starts. He spent 2015 with the

Daytona Tortugas The Daytona Tortugas are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and play their home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 191 ...

and

Pensacola Blue Wahoos The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field. In 2012, the team rel ...

, compiling a combined 6–9 record and 4.82 ERA in 26 games (25 starts). After the season, the Reds added him to their 40-man roster. In 2016, Romano returned to Pensacola where he pitched to a 6–11 record with a 3.52 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 27 starts. Romano began the 2017 season with the

Louisville Bats The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the bat, win ...

. He was recalled to the Reds on April 16 and he made his major league debut that same day. Romano was sent back down to Louisville two days later. He was recalled from Louisville multiple times during the season before being recalled for the last time on July 18. In ten starts for Louisville he was 1–4 with a 3.47 ERA, and in 16 starts for Cincinnati, he compiled a 5–8 record and 4.45 ERA. Romano began 2018 as a member of Cincinnati's

starting rotation R rabbit ears :Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for their own good. A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz them is said to have rabbit ears. Also, an umpire ...

. He ended the season with a record of 8–11 and a 5.31 ERA in 39 games (25 starts). Romano began 2019 as a relief pitcher with Louisville. On July 22, Romano was recalled back to Cincinnati. The next day, Romano would pitch three innings while giving up only three hits and one earned run and recorded two strikeouts en route to recording a save in a win over the

. Romano was designated for assignment by the Reds on February 5, 2020. On September 13, 2020, Romano was added to the Reds’ active roster. He pitched 1.1 shutout innings in 2020. After recording a 5.23 ERA in 14 appearances, Romano was again designated for assignment on May 14, 2021. On May 17, Romano cleared waivers and elected free agency.

New York Yankees

On May 19, 2021, Romano signed a minor league contract with the

organization. Romano recorded a 3.63 ERA in 17 games with the Triple-A

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pen ...

before he was released on July 18. Romano re-signed with the Yankees organization on a new minor league contract the same day. The Yankees selected Romano’s contract to the major league roster on July 22. In two appearances for the Yankees, Romano pitched scoreless innings with three strikeouts. On July 31, Romano was designated for assignment by the Yankees.

Milwaukee Brewers

Romano was claimed off waivers by the

on August 3, 2021. In 1 inning pitched for the Brewers, Romano gave up 3 runs. On August 10, 2021, Romano was designated for assignment by the Brewers. On August 13, Romano elected free agency.

New York Yankees (second stint)

On August 14, 2021, Romano signed a minor league contract to return to the

. He was assigned to Triple-A Scranton. The Yankees selected his contract on September 8, and he made 1 appearance, getting 2 outs while giving up 1 run. On September 10, 2021, The Yankees designated Romano for assignment. On September 13, Romano cleared waivers, but rejected his outright assignment, making him a free agent. The next day, Romano re-signed a major league contract with the Yankees. Romano once again only made 1 appearance for the Yankees, getting 1 out and giving up 1 run. After being injured and placed on the 10-day IL, the Yankees released Romano on September 20.

Seattle Mariners

On March 22, 2022, Romano signed a minor league contract with the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

. On April 4, Romano retired from professional baseball.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romano, Sal Living people 1993 births People from Syosset, New York People from Southington, Connecticut Baseball players from New York (state) Baseball players from Connecticut American sportspeople of Italian descent Major League Baseball pitchers Cincinnati Reds players New York Yankees players Milwaukee Brewers players Billings Mustangs players Dayton Dragons players Daytona Tortugas players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Louisville Bats players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players