July 10, 2011
Fullerton, Calif. - Former Cal State Fullerton All-American left-hander Ricky Romero is headed to Phoenix, Arizona, as an American League All-Star for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Romero, 26, received word in the ninth inning of Sunday's 7-1 win over the Cleveland Indians that he would be replacing Seattle's Felix Hernandez, who is not making the trip to Arizona for the Midsummer Classic at the Diamondbacks' Chase Field.
Bosonst Jon Lester was next in line in Hernadez's absences, but Lester is on the 15-day disabled list, opening the door for the first-timer Romero.
"I'm at a loss for words. It's very exciting. My family is excited," Romero said after Sunday's game in Cleveland.
"I'm especially excited to be representing East Los Angeles and representing Canada."
The southpaw, who played at Cal State Fullerton from 2003 to 2005, is currently 7-8 with a 3.09 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 122.1 innings as a starter. He will join manager John Farrell and MLB home run leader Jose Bautista as Blue Jays representatives in the 82nd annual gathering of the game's best players on July 12.
Romero becomes the fifth Cal State Fullerton product to make a major league All-Star roster. Tim Wallach, now a coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was a five-time All-Star third baseman for the Montreal Expos. Phil Nevin was an All-Star in 2001 with the San Diego Padres. Chad Cordero represented the Washington Nationals in 2005 and Aaron Rowand replaced Ken Griffey, Jr., in the line-up in the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco.
ANOTHER ALL-STAR WEEKEND NOTE:
Former Titan All-American outfielder Gary Brown was the starting centerfielder in the 2011 Futures Game on Sunday at Arizona's Chase Field. He was the lone representative of the San Francisco Giants organization in the annual game that pits top minor league prospects against each other in a kick-off of the MLB All-Star festivities.
Brown has been ripping up the California League for San Francisco's Advanced-A affiliate San Jose Giants. In 82 games, Brown is bating .316 with seven home runs and 51 RBI. He also has 21 doubles, six triples and 35 stolen bases.
In addition to his Futures Game appearance, Brown was also a California League Mid-Season All-Star.
In Sunday's Futures Game, Brown was 1-for-2 with a stolen base that led to the U.S. team's third unanswered run. The U.S. Futures won the contest, 6-4.
"I'm the new guy around here, so I am just taking it all in," Brown said.
"I'm having a great time. It's been awesome."
FORMER TITANS AS MINOR LEAGUE ALL-STARS
David Cooper (Las Vegas / Pacific Coast League)
Wes Roemer (Mobile / Southern League)
Erik Komatsu (Huntsville / Southern League)
Gary Brown (San Jose / California League)
Josh Fellhauer (Bakersfield / California League)
Khris Davis (Brevard County / Florida State League)