J.C. Romero
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Romero is a Puerto Rican
professional baseball
pitcher
. He has played for the Minnesota Twins
(-), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
, the Boston Red Sox
, Philadelphia Phillies
and Colorado Rockies
.
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the 21st round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Romero was traded by the Twins to the Angels on December 9, 2005, for infielder Alexi Casilla
.
Romero was one of the Puerto Rican players to agree to play for Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
.
On October 6, 2006, the Angels declined his contract option for 2007, making him a free agent
. On December 15, he signed a 1-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. However on June 9, 2007, he was designated for assignment
, and then released on June 19, 2007.
. During that season, Romero's ERA
fell to just over 1.00. Romero improved a weak Phillies' bullpen plagued by inconsistency and injuries, which posted a 3.17 ERA in the final stretch of September. He also played a crucial role in the Phillies' triumph on the last day of the season, when in a 6-1 victory over the Nationals that capped the team's comeback against the New York Mets, Romero pitched one inning and struck out the side. Romero was named the Phillies' top reliever for the post-season. On November 10, 2007, Romero agreed to a multi-year deal to remain with the Phillies.
On October 29, 2008, Romero was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the World Series
, which clinched the first major championship in the city of Philadelphia in 25 years. Along with his win in Game 3, he became the first Puerto Rican
pitcher to win two games in one World Series.
His club option for 2011 was declined by the Phillies after the 2010 season, but he agreed to return to the team by signing a one-year contract. He was designated for assignment on June 16 and was released on June 24.
, a performance-enhancing drug banned by MLB. Romero said that he bought a supplement named 6-OXO Extreme
from a GNC
store at the Cherry Hill Mall
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
and that he was cleared to take it by two nutritionist
s. Romero actually tested positive on August 26, 2008, but he took the case to arbitration, allowing him to pitch in the postseason and World Series; after he stopped taking the supplement, he tested negative before the playoffs. Due to the suspension, Romero lost $1.25 million, so he is suing the makers of the supplement, Ergopharm Inc., along with The Vitamin Shoppe
and GNC for his lost salary and punitive damages. Following the 50-game suspension, Romero returned to the Phillies' AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
in May 2009. Romero returned to the Phillies on June 3, 2009.
on June 29, 2011. On July 14, 2011, Romero was granted his release by the Nationals.
on July 14, 2011. He made 11 appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, facing 55 batters, striking out 10, and allowing four earned runs. He requested and was granted his release from the Yankees on August 8.
.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe 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 a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He has played for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(-), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Playing career
Romero played college baseball at the University of MobileUniversity of Mobile
The University of Mobile is an American four-year, private, Baptist-affiliated university in Mobile, Alabama. The master's-level university has an enrollment of 1,577.-History:...
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the 21st round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
.
Romero was traded by the Twins to the Angels on December 9, 2005, for infielder Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla Lora is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...
.
Romero was one of the Puerto Rican players to agree to play for Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
.
On October 6, 2006, the Angels declined his contract option for 2007, making him a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. On December 15, he signed a 1-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. However on June 9, 2007, he was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
, and then released on June 19, 2007.
Philadelphia Phillies
On June 23, 2007, Romero signed with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. During that season, Romero's ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
fell to just over 1.00. Romero improved a weak Phillies' bullpen plagued by inconsistency and injuries, which posted a 3.17 ERA in the final stretch of September. He also played a crucial role in the Phillies' triumph on the last day of the season, when in a 6-1 victory over the Nationals that capped the team's comeback against the New York Mets, Romero pitched one inning and struck out the side. Romero was named the Phillies' top reliever for the post-season. On November 10, 2007, Romero agreed to a multi-year deal to remain with the Phillies.
On October 29, 2008, Romero was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, which clinched the first major championship in the city of Philadelphia in 25 years. Along with his win in Game 3, he became the first Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
pitcher to win two games in one World Series.
His club option for 2011 was declined by the Phillies after the 2010 season, but he agreed to return to the team by signing a one-year contract. He was designated for assignment on June 16 and was released on June 24.
Drug suspension
Prior to the 2009 season, Romero was suspended 50 games for testing positive for androstenedioneAndrostenedione
Androstenedione is a 19-carbon steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands and the gonads as an intermediate step in the biochemical pathway that produces the androgen testosterone and the estrogens estrone and estradiol.-Synthesis:Androstenedione is the common precursor of male and female sex...
, a performance-enhancing drug banned by MLB. Romero said that he bought a supplement named 6-OXO Extreme
4-Androstene-3,6,17-trione
4-Androstene-3,6,17-trione is a drug or nutritional supplement that may increase the testosterone-estrogen ratio, but has no proven effect on body composition...
from a GNC
General Nutrition Centers
General Nutrition Centers is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based American commercial enterprise focused on the retail sale of health and nutrition related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet & energy products.-History:In 1935, David Shakarian opened a...
store at the Cherry Hill Mall
Cherry Hill Mall (shopping mall)
Cherry Hill Mall, owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust , was originally known as Cherry Hill Shopping Center, the first indoor, climate-controlled shopping center east of the Mississippi River in the United States, and opened in October 1961.Cherry Hill Mall is located at 2000 Route...
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
and that he was cleared to take it by two nutritionist
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health. Different professional terms are used in different countries, employment settings and contexts — some examples include: nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical...
s. Romero actually tested positive on August 26, 2008, but he took the case to arbitration, allowing him to pitch in the postseason and World Series; after he stopped taking the supplement, he tested negative before the playoffs. Due to the suspension, Romero lost $1.25 million, so he is suing the makers of the supplement, Ergopharm Inc., along with The Vitamin Shoppe
The Vitamin Shoppe
The Vitamin Shoppe is a New Jersey-based retailer of nutritional supplements with 500 locations in 37 states...
and GNC for his lost salary and punitive damages. Following the 50-game suspension, Romero returned to the Phillies' AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
in May 2009. Romero returned to the Phillies on June 3, 2009.
Washington Nationals
Romero signed a minor league contract with the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on June 29, 2011. On July 14, 2011, Romero was granted his release by the Nationals.
New York Yankees
He signed a minor league contract with the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
on July 14, 2011. He made 11 appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, facing 55 batters, striking out 10, and allowing four earned runs. He requested and was granted his release from the Yankees on August 8.
Colorado Rockies
On August 15, Romero signed a major league contract with the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.