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Add Stefen Romero’s name to the list of players competing to backup Adam Lind at first base.
Jerry Dipoto surprised everyone during his media session at Mariners FanFest last weekend when he suggested Stefen Romero will get an opportunity to play first base this spring. The 27-year-old outfielder will compete with Jesus Montero, Gaby Sanchez and the recently signed Dae-ho Lee to backup Adam Lind. The notion of playing Romero at first base is intriguing, but his chances of exiting Arizona with the M’s are slim.
Originally selected in the 10th round of the 2010 draft by the Mariners, Romero reached the big leagues in 2014. He looked overmatched in Seattle, hitting .192 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI across 72 games as a rookie. Romero’s .234 on base percentage and .299 slugging percentage were underwhelming to say the least.
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Romero spent the vast majority of last season in Tacoma with the Rainiers, and he dominated the Pacific Coast League. Romero hit .292 with 37 doubles, 17 home runs, 79 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 116 games played. He registered a .333 on base percentage and slugged .494 across 516 plate appearances. Romero also posted a .304 batting average against left-handed pitching in 2015.
The Oregon State alum earned a September call up to Seattle, and appeared in 13 games for the Mariners last season. Romero posted a .190/.292/.381 slash line with 1 home run and 3 RBI across 24 plate appearances. His numbers were disappointing, but he showed much more patience at the dish. Romero nursed just 4 free passes in all of 2014, but he worked 3 walks last season in very limited action.
Romero is decent outfielder, but nothing more. During his first two seasons in Seattle, he has registered a .988 fielding percentage and a 1.94 range factor per 9 innings. Romero’s arm is below average, but he has demonstrated the ability to defend all three positions.
The real question is, can Stefen Romero play first base? The simple answer is, probably. He has only played 31.2 career innings at first base, and all of those came in the minor leagues. However, Romero spent his first two professional seasons as a full-time second baseman. He has nearly 1,400 innings under his belt at second base, and he has played well in limited opportunities at third base.
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Despite never really playing first base, I’m reasonably comfortable suggesting that Romero is the best defender of the group. That says more about the other players’ deficiencies than it does Romero’s abilities. Montero, Sanchez and Lee are all considered subpar on defense, and none possess the athleticism Romero brings to the table.
However, what these players can do with the bat will ultimately be the deciding factor in who makes the opening day roster. Montero and Sanchez have mashed against left-handed pitching during their careers, and Lee crushed 31 home runs last season in Japan. Romero has posted a .206/.245/.313 career slash line versus southpaws in the big leagues. That is not going to cut it.
Next: Does Chris Taylor have a Future with the Mariners?
At this point, the Tucson, AZ product is the forgotten man in Seattle. Stefen Romero is currently fifth on the Mariners depth chart at first base, and is the seventh or eighth option in the outfield. It will take a miracle for him to make the club out of spring training this year. However, adding another position does make Romero more valuable and that could facilitate a mid-season promotion to Seattle.