IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Romero to Begin Rehab Tonight at Coca-Cola Park

Published on May 18, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


(Allentown, Pa.) - LHP J.C. Romero, a valuable member of the Phillies bullpen and the winning pitcher of the clinching Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, is scheduled to begin a Major League rehab assignment when the Lehigh Valley IronPigs host the Gwinnett Braves at 7:05 p.m. on Monday at Coca-Cola Park. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is the exclusive sponsor of all Major League rehabilitation appearances at Coca-Cola Park.

Romero received a 50-game suspension on January 6 to begin the 2009 season for violating Major League Baseball's banned substance policy. Per MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (Chapter 8, Section H), a pitcher suspended 26 games or more for violating the policy can appear in the Minor Leagues on a rehab assignment beginning 16 days prior to the end of his suspension.

Field Level and General Admission tickets still remain for Monday night's home game against Gwinnett and can be purchased in-person at Coca-Cola Park, by calling (610) 841-PIGS or online at ironpigsbaseball.com. Prices for single-game tickets remain identical to 2008 and start as low as $6 for General Admission, granting fans access to the Capital BlueCross Lawn seating area and standing room only areas. Field Level reserved seats are just $9.

The first 2,000 fans 18 and older attending Monday's game against the Braves will take home a truly unique giveaway - an IronPigs plunger - courtesy of Mr. Rooter / Agentis Plumbing. As with every Monday home game, there will also be a Morning Call pre-game autograph session with select IronPigs players from 6:00-6:20 p.m. on the main concourse.

Romero has been one of the most dependable relievers in MLB this decade, appearing in 516 games since 2002 - the most of any pitcher in baseball. Romero was also the winning pitcher in Game 3 and the clinching Game 5 for the Phillies in last year's World Series. In fact, in four Fall Classic appearances, Romero was unscored upon in 4.2 innings pitched (2-0, 0.00 ERA).

Last year, the native of Puerto Rico tied his career-high with 81 appearances while going 4-4 with a 2.75 ERA and notching the second-longest scoreless innings streak by a reliever in Phillies history (28.1 innings dating back to 2007). Collectively, left-handers batted a mere .102 (10-for-98) against the specialist last season.

Romero was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent after getting released by Boston on 6/18/07. Upon joining the Phils, Romero became one of the top lefties in all of baseball, allowing just 15 hits in 36.1 innings while registering a 1.24 ERA in 51 appearances. His 1.24 ERA was the lowest by a Phillies reliever since 1989 (Roger McDowell, 1.11) and his 20 September appearances were the most by a Major League reliever since 1969 (Wayne Granger, Cincinnati).

Romero was originally selected by Minnesota in the 21st round of the 1997 draft and spent portions of seven seasons with the Twins before being traded to Los Angeles (AL) for Alexi Casilla on Dec. 9, 2005. The 32-year-old has combined to go 32-28 with a 4.14 ERA in parts of 11 Major League seasons.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering a continuum of care for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializing in assistive and rehabilitation technology. More than 40,000 people come to Good Shepherd each year for specialized programs in stroke, orthopedics, sports injuries, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, amputation and more. Good Shepherd provides rehabilitation services in eight eastern Pennsylvania counties. Good Shepherd operates 17 outpatient sites, four inpatient sites, a long-term acute care hospital, two long-term care homes for people with severe disabilities, an independent living facility and a Work Services division that provides employment training and job placements, four inpatient sites, a long-term acute care hospital, two long-term care homes for people with severe disabilities, an independent living facility and a Work Services division that provides employment training and job placement.

For more information, visit www.homerunrehab.com or www.ironpigsbaseball.com.

The 2009 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.

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International League Stories from May 18, 2009


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