Photo Credit: Winnipeg Goldeyes
DURHAM, N.C.- The Winnipeg Goldeyes have enjoyed a memorable 2017. They won the American Association’s North Division crown, and placed a league-high four players on the American Association Postseason All-Star team. One of those, OF Josh Romanski, stood out above the rest. Romanski has been selected as the American Association’s 2017 Player of the Year. The award was voted upon by league field managers and media relations staff.
Entering Monday’s action, Romanski is tied for third in the American Association with a .327 batting average. He also is tied for second among league leaders in RBI, having driven in 81. Additionally, Romanski has accumulated 27 doubles and 11 home runs in 2017.
He was selected as an American Association Midseason All-Star, and notched two hits in the July 25 American Association/Can-Am League All-Star Game in Ottawa, Ontario.
One of Romanski’s first highlights of 2017 came on back-to-back days in May. On May 23, he hit two home runs and drove in four runs in a 7-3 win over the Salina Stockade. A day later, on May 24, he was 4-for-6 with a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored in a 16-0 win over Salina. Romanski homered and knocked in two runs in a June 6 game against the Sioux City Explorers. From June 18-July 1, Romanski went on a 13-game hit streak, recording multiple hits in five of the 13 games.
On July 5 and 6, Romanski notched consecutive three-hit games, leading to a 9-5 win at the Wichita Wingnuts and 5-0 win at the Gary SouthShore RailCats, respectively. He repeated the feat a week later, picking up three hits on July 12 and 13 against the Sioux City Explorers, and the Goldeyes won the games by 9-2 and 12-0 scores. From July 30-August 2, Romanski put together five straight two-hit games. He hit five doubles and picked up four RBI in the span, and Winnipeg won each game. In a 9-7 win at the Sioux Falls Canaries on August 7, Romanski was 3-for-5 with a double, his first three-hit game since July 13. On August 13, Romanski notched his second four-hit game of the season, as he was 4-for-5 with a double, home run, and five RBI. Winnipeg rolled over Wichita 14-5. Romanski’s most recent homer and multi-RBI game came on August 29 at the St. Paul Saints, when he homered and drove in three in a 13-5 win.
2017 is Romanski’s second season in Winnipeg. He hit .305 with 22 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 64 RBI in 2016. Prior to coming to the Goldeyes, Romanski played the 2014 season with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, putting up a .311 average in 96 games, hitting 17 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 60 RBI. Romanski’s 2014 debut in the American Association corresponded with his re-conversion to the outfield. In his first professional season in 2008, Romanski was an outfielder in the Milwaukee Brewers system, but underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2009 season. When he returned to professional baseball in 2010, the New York Yankees signed Romanski as a pitcher. He spent the next four seasons in the Yankees and Chicago White Sox systems, pitching as high as the Class AAA level.
Romanski was a 15th round pick of the San Diego Padres in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, but opted not to sign and instead attend the University of San Diego. He improved his draft stock in 2008, as the Brewers selected him in the fourth round.
The Goldeyes will close their regular season today at 1:00 p.m. Central time with a home game against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The game can be seen live and for free at www.americanassociationbaseball.tv. Winnipeg will open the American Association playoffs on Wednesday evening on the road. For more information, visit www.americanassociationbaseball.com.
