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Phillies Sign Andrew Romine, Gift Ngoepe

By Jeff Todd | January 11, 2019 at 11:41pm CDT

The Phillies have inked infielders Andrew Romine and Gift Ngoepe, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). Both are joining the organization on minor-league deals.

Romine, now 33, has appeared in every one of the past nine MLB seasons, though only once has he surpassed three hundred plate appearances in a given campaign. Through 1,323 total trips to the dish at the game’s highest level, he’s a .235/.291/.301 hitter.

Clearly, teams are more intrigued by Romine’s glovework than his bat. The same holds for Ngoepe, who is the first African-born player to play in the big leagues. Soon to turn 29, Ngoepe has yet to show that he can hit enough to command more than spot duty in the majors. In 902 career Triple-A plate appearances, he’s hitting .212/.297/.344.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Andrew Romine Gift Ngoepe

Nationals Avoid Arbitration With Anthony Rendon
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Market Notes: Smith/Watson, Reds, White Sox, AGon
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31 Comments

  1. T_Rexx2

    6 years ago

    Out on Machado?

    5
    Reply
    • Jimcarlo Slaton

      6 years ago

      IN.. Phillies know he increases their chances since he and Machado once shared a laugh during batting practice.. I remember it well, August 18, 2015.

      12
      Reply
      • lippy10195

        6 years ago

        Hahahaha…so great. Really such a great comment.

        1
        Reply
    • petrie000

      6 years ago

      Out on Harper at least

      Reply
      • rxbrgr

        6 years ago

        Not if they still drop stupid money.

        1
        Reply
  2. Paul Heyman

    6 years ago

    Isn’t Andrew Romine the player who had a game where he played all 9 positions?

    8
    Reply
    • Miguel Jr

      6 years ago

      Yup! Back in 2017 for the Tigers. Good accomplishment!

      5
      Reply
      • Robb Schwartz

        6 years ago

        Joined Bert Campaneris and Darryl Thomas! Great accomplishment indeed!!

        Reply
        • LeylandsLung

          6 years ago

          Shane Halter also did it with the Tigers

          1
          Reply
    • LeylandsLung

      6 years ago

      baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid…

      Reply
  3. xabial

    6 years ago

    Romine’s brother avoided arb agreeing to $1.8M today

    Defying odds, unjustly mlbtr non-tender candidate, every yr.

    I like the Romine family, I like the Seager family. MLB needs more brother-duos. NBA hard(er?) to make it, and yet NBA has much more brother duos on different teams. Why?

    3
    Reply
    • Frisco500

      6 years ago

      NBA lottery picks almost always make the NBA. More common then not. Many MLB top 10 picks will barely make a splash if any. Also, ask MJ which sport is more difficult. And baseball has a much richer history of siblings and father/son than any sport. The Alou brothers once filled the Giants OF. LF CF & RF.

      1
      Reply
      • Steven Chinwood

        6 years ago

        It’s certainly a “more difficult” sport when you don’t attempt it full time until age 31.

        Reply
      • MWeller77

        6 years ago

        To claim that one sport is “more difficult” in all situations is an egregious oversimplification. Basketball would almost certainly be more difficult for Jose Altuve & Jose Ramirez, for example. Both sports are of course extremely difficult to play at the pro level, and the degree of difficulty for each obviously depends on the individual athlete.

        1
        Reply
  4. nowheredan

    6 years ago

    The Gift that keeps on getting people to pay him money to be a terrible baseball player.

    3
    Reply
    • bucketbrew35

      6 years ago

      It sounds horrible but when the Pirates first promoted him it had a very publicity stunt feel to it. I wish him the best. He beat crazy odds to make it this far.

      Reply
    • Robertowannabe

      6 years ago

      You are only half right. Gift is a terrible hitter but an excellent fielder. Many excellent fielders get playing time in the majors even though they can not hit.

      2
      Reply
  5. 68tigers84

    6 years ago

    I wondered why they did’nt put Romine in as a DH during his 9 position game. That would have made 10 positions. They had planned quite awhile ahead, perhaps they picked a NL Park with no DH.

    1
    Reply
    • 68tigers84

      6 years ago

      DH is’nt a real position, but it would have added to the 9 position difficulty.

      Reply
    • T_Rexx2

      6 years ago

      You can’t switch to DH in the middle of a game, or from DH without giving up the DH that game. Which is why they didn’t make him the DH that game, he wouldn’t have been able to play any other position.

      2
      Reply
    • LeylandsLung

      6 years ago

      The DH was lost sometime in the 7th inning due to all of the switches.
      baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid…

      Reply
  6. jimmertee

    6 years ago

    Gift Ngoepe has got an elite glove and AA bat. I wish him well. He hasn’t had an easy ride or path.

    3
    Reply
  7. cakirby

    6 years ago

    Should probably include that Romine played *everywhere* with Detroit

    2
    Reply
  8. Ejemp2006

    6 years ago

    Romine is super many function Swiss Army tool, only just all blades very dull.
    Phillies sure spending stupid money, it seems, a lot?

    1
    Reply
    • 68tigers84

      6 years ago

      It’s too bad Romine did’nt stay with the Tigers through their rebuild. He might have been able to get 500 plus at bats.

      3
      Reply
    • DadsInDaniaBeach

      6 years ago

      Just minor league roster fill….

      1
      Reply
  9. aussiegiants53

    6 years ago

    Just watched Gift N’Gope in the Australian baseball league, quite comfortable in the field, wasn’t as strong in the box. He’s a been a big draw card for the league which is good

    2
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      6 years ago

      He’s really outstanding in the field, especially at SS which was his primary position coming up in the Pirates system. He’s a throwback to the 50s and 60s when a lot of teams employed an infielder who couldn’t hit a lick but was excellent in the field.

      1
      Reply
    • DarkSide830

      6 years ago

      his OPS in the ABL was 1.151, which, as much as the ABL is an easier league, is a bit curious.

      1
      Reply
  10. dshires4

    6 years ago

    If you didn’t know it was his name, you’d read the headline like the signed Romine, then gifted Ngoepe.

    1
    Reply
  11. jakec77

    6 years ago

    I’d never even heard of Ngoepe. Reading headline for the article, thought his first name was a verb. I though they signed Romine then gave away another player as a birthday present.

    Reply

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