Andrew Romine is no stranger to baseball. After playing at Arizona State University, he made his Major League debut in 2010 when he signed with the LA Angels of Anaheim; he's also the son of MLB Red Sox outfielder Kevin Romine and brother to MLB catcher Austin Romine.
So it's no surprise that when he retired at the end of the 2021 season – with over 10 years playing for teams such as the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs – that he used that experience to pursue his next life goal of opening his own baseball academy. He took his knowledge and love of the game and used it to bring that same excitement to others who were looking to polish their game or just have fun. And so, All9Romine Baseball Academy was born.
“Focusing my love of the game on teaching the next generation has become my new goal as my family and I settle down in Arizona,” Romine said. “At the end of the 2017 season with the Tigers, I played all nine positions in one Major League game – only the fifth person to do it in MLB history. The name came about from a fan who asked me to sign a ball after the game and requested that I write 'All9romine.' I love it so I saved it for the day I was planning to open my own baseball academy.”
With the academy now open, Romine offers a variety of services for all age groups such as in-person lessons, live video lessons, camps and more. He enjoys teaching, not just because of his love for the game, but how it can help enrich people's lives off the diamond as well.
“I work with all age groups, it's never too early to learn a new sport and have fun,” said Romine. “Baseball teaches you so much more than just how to hit a ball. It's a way to learn life skills that teach you to become a well-rounded ballplayer and person.”
The academy has hosted a few camps since opening, including one in Arizona and one in Tennessee that have been a huge hit for Romine and attendees alike.
“The camps went great,” Romine said. “Lots of really good information was passed along but most of all, everyone had fun.”
The next camp will be this month in San Tan Valley for the San Tan Valley Little League. Besides learning from Romine, some lucky attendees may even get some special training.
“I have former professional players come help often, ranging from former college teammates to MLB players,” Romine said. “If you keep an eye out, you'll see some guest appearances at camps we have lined up this year.”
During his time in the major leagues, Romine received his license to become a mortgage lender in anticipation of providing for him and his family in the next chapter of his life. And while he gets players from all over Arizona and some even out of state who are excited to learn from the former professional player, he is happy that he decided to make Queen Creek his home.
“One of the things my family and I love the most about Queen Creek is the small town feel we still have here,” Romine said. “We've lived a crazy life already and now enjoy the relaxing Arizona days out in the East Valley. I love the town events that are put on here; from festivals to food truck Fridays and all the parks and trails, there's always something to do.”
While Romine said balancing work and home life is always a challenge, opening the academy has allowed him to stay involved in the game he loves so much. From playing baseball at ASU to obtaining his mortgage lending certification, Romine knows achieving your goals can sometimes be difficult, but wants young athletes to stay determined.
“Never give up. There's going to be a lot of difficult times and how you react to them will determine how far you go,” he offered. “Keep going, keep working, you are capable of more than you know.”
For more information on All9Romine Baseball Academy including camps, pricing and services, visit www.all9romine.com or email Andrew at [email protected].
