Quick Facts
Biography
James Robert Romak (born September 30, 1985) is a Canadian professional baseball right fielder and first baseman for the SK Wyverns of the KBO League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. Romak has also competed for the Canadian national baseball team.
Amateur career
Romak attended A.B. Lucas Secondary School in London, Ontario, Canada.
Professional career
Atlanta Braves
He was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Braves of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2003, and played for the Danville Braves of the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2004 and 2005. He was promoted to the Rome Braves of the Class-A South Atlantic League (SAL) in 2006, where he had a .247 batting average, 26 doubles, 16 home runs and 68 runs batted in.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Before the 2007 season, the Braves traded Romak with Adam LaRoche to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Mike Gonzalez and Brent Lillibridge. The Pirates assigned Romak to the Hickory Crawdads of the SAL, before promoting him to the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Class-A Advanced Carolina League. Before the 2008 season, Baseball Prospectus rated Romak as the Pirates sixth best prospect. Romak split the 2008 and 2009 seasons with the Hillcats and Altoona Curve of the Class-AA Eastern League.
Kansas City Royals
Romak signed with the Kansas City Royals as a minor league free agent for the 2010 season. With the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League, Romak was named Player of the Week three times in June, winning Player of the Month honours as well. Romak batted .251 with 23 home runs for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class-AA Texas League in 2011. He resigned with the Royals for 2012.
St. Louis Cardinals
On May 17, 2012, Romak was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations. Romak spent most of the 2012 season with Cardinals Double-A affiliate Springfield. In December 2012 Romak re-signed with the Cardinals for 2013 and spent the season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On November 16, 2013, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 108 games for the Isotopes in 2014, he hit .280 with 24 homers and 85 RBI.
He was called up to the Dodgers on May 28, 2014, after 1,069 games and 4,306 plate appearances in the minor leagues. He ground out to second base in his MLB debut, as a pinch hitter. His first hit was a 2-RBI double off Matt Belisle of the Colorado Rockies on June 8, 2014. That was his only hit in 21 at-bats for the Dodgers. He was designated for assignment on June 25, 2014.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Romak signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a minor league free agent in November 2014. On August 8, 2015, the Diamondbacks selected his contract from the Triple-A Reno Aces.
The Diamondbacks released Romak on November 10, 2015.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars
On November 13, 2015 he signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.
San Diego Padres
On November 8, 2016, Romak signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.
SK Wyverns
On May 7, 2017, Romak had his contract sold to the SK Wyverns of the KBO League. Romak is still playing in SK Wyverns as a 4th hitter. He has hit over 100 home runs in KBO league.
International career
Romak has played for the Canadian national baseball team. He participated in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, the 2011 Baseball World Cup, winning the bronze medal, and the 2011 Pan American Games, winning the gold medal. The 2011 Canadian team was inducted in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
