Three Goldeyes Hang up Cleats, Romanski Heads to Mexico

Bill BurfootSports

WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes will be looking for a three-peat this coming summer, but they’ll have to do it without some key members of their 2017 American Association Championship squad.

David Rohm, Shawn Pleffner, and Casey Turgeon have all decided to hang up the cleats while Josh Romanski will be heading to the Mexican League for the 2018 season.

The reigning American Association player of the year and fan-favorite Romanski signed a deal to play with Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League, which is considered to be equivalent to triple-A baseball. The 31-year-old from Anaheim, California smacked 11 home runs along with 81 RBI’s while batting .324, helping the Goldeyes to their second consecutive league title.

Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as a pitcher in 2010, Romanski spent four years working as a left-handed pitcher in both the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox organizations before converting to outfield with the Gary Southshore Railcats in 2014.

Rohm retires as one of the most consistent hitters in Goldeyes history. The Fresno, California native hit a combined .308 with 122 runs scored, 41 doubles, 13 home runs, 118 RBI, and a .374 on-base percentage in 194 games over the past two seasons.

What’s even more impressive was Rohm’s post-season numbers. During the 2016 and 2017 Championship runs, Rohm hit a combined .413, which is a post-season franchise record, and may be most remembered for doubling home the winning run in the bottom of the 17th inning of the Goldeyes 4-3 marathon win in Game Four of last year’s American Association Championship Series versus Wichita.

Turgeon, a late-season acquisition by the Goldeyes last season, has also decided to hang up his cleats after an impressive post-season with the Fish that included many key moments which included a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch the semifinal series over the Lincoln Saltdogs, and one that will go down as one of the craziest games in American Association history. In Game Four of the Championship series, Turgeon appeared to ground out to third base to end the series, but a balk had actually been called prior to the pitch, giving Turgeon another chance. With his second opportunity, Turgeon knocked home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, keeping the Goldeyes hopes alive. The Goldeyes would go on to win the game in the 17th inning before blowing out the Winguts 18-2 in Game Five to win the championship.

Shawn Pleffner spent only one season with the Goldeyes but he made it a memorable one. The 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida won the American Association batting title last season with a .340 average while finishing third in the league in doubles (30) and seventh in RBI’s with 76 and topped off the year by hitting for the cycle in Game Five of the Championship Series.

Winnipeg will look for their third consecutive title when the season gets underway March 8th and 9th with a pair of exhibition games against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. The Goldeyes begin their regular season schedule with a three-game set on the road in Cleburn beginning May 18th.

Bill Burfoot, Manitoba Post

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