Roman Quinn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roman Quinn |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Quinn in September 2018
|
|||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 14, 1993 Port St. Joe, Florida, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 11, 2016, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 19, 2022, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .226 | ||
| Home runs | 8 | ||
| Runs batted in | 45 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Roman Tredarian Quinn (born May 14, 1993) is a former American professional baseball player. He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays. Quinn was known for his amazing speed on the baseball field.
Quinn grew up in Port St. Joe, Florida, in a family that loved sports. He played basketball, gridiron football, and baseball in high school. His incredible speed caught the eye of many sports reporters. The Phillies chose Quinn in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He had planned to play college baseball for Florida State, but he decided to sign with the Phillies instead.
He started playing professional baseball in 2012 with the Phillies' minor league teams. Reporters called him the "Human Highlight Reel" because of his exciting batting and running skills. However, Quinn's career was often affected by injuries, which kept him from playing full seasons. He made his major league debut in September 2016.
Contents
Roman Quinn's Baseball Journey
Early Life and High School Sports
Roman Quinn was born on May 14, 1993, in Port St. Joe, Florida. His family was very athletic, with relatives who played track and field, baseball, and gridiron football. He went to Port St. Joe High School. There, he played on the same football team as Calvin Pryor, who later played in the National Football League (NFL).
Quinn was a talented three-sport athlete. In basketball, he scored about 20.6 points per game. In football, he was a return specialist and defensive back. For the baseball team, he played in center field. In 2011, during his last year of high school, Baseball America magazine called him the fastest player in their pre-draft report. He could run 60 yards in just 6.35 seconds. He was also a good hitter, with a .458 batting average in 2010.
Starting in Professional Baseball
Joining the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies picked Roman Quinn in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He was the 66th player chosen overall. Quinn had planned to play college baseball at Florida State University. But he decided to sign with the Phillies instead. He received a signing bonus of $775,000.
Because he signed with the Phillies just before a deadline, Quinn could not start playing professional baseball until the 2012 season. He began his professional career with the Williamsport Crosscutters. This team was part of the Phillies' minor league system. Even though he batted right-handed in high school, he learned to be a switch hitter (batting from both sides). He also played shortstop for the Crosscutters.
Reporters in Williamsport noticed Quinn's unique batting style. He would often hit the ball on the ground and then use his speed to run to base. They called him the "Human Highlight Reel." In his first season, he had a .281 batting average in 66 games. He also stole 30 stolen bases. His 11 triples were the most in his league.
Moving Up Through the Minor Leagues
In 2013, Baseball America said Quinn was the second-best young player in the Phillies' minor league system. He started the season with the Lakewood BlueClaws. On April 9, he hit an exciting inside-the-park home run. However, his season ended early on June 24 when he broke a bone in his right wrist. He played 67 games, hitting .238 and stealing 32 bases.
During the offseason, Quinn tore his right Achilles tendon, a major leg injury. This kept him from playing at the start of 2014. He returned in May 2014 with the Clearwater Threshers. He started as a shortstop but moved back to center field later that season. He batted .257 with seven home runs and 32 stolen bases in 88 games. After the regular season, Quinn played in the Arizona Fall League. He led that league with 14 stolen bases.
In 2015, Quinn played for the Reading Fightin Phils. He was chosen for the Eastern League All-Star Classic. At that time, he led the league with 29 stolen bases. But he didn't play in the game because he tore a hip muscle. This injury kept him out for the rest of the season. The Phillies added Quinn to their main roster to protect him from being picked by other teams. He played in the Dominican League during the winter to recover.
Quinn rejoined Reading in 2016. He was ranked as the Phillies' seventh-best young player. He wanted to learn to play all outfield positions. But injuries continued to affect him. He strained a stomach muscle and later got a concussion. Despite these problems, he finished the year with a .302 batting average and 36 stolen bases in 77 games.
Reaching the Major Leagues
_(cropped).jpg)
After the minor league season ended, Quinn was called up to the Phillies' main team in September 2016. He made his Major League Baseball debut on September 11, 2016. He played center field against the Washington Nationals. The next day, he hit two doubles and stole a base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His season ended early again on September 27 with another stomach muscle strain. In 15 major league games, he hit .263 with six runs batted in and five stolen bases.
For the 2017 season, Quinn said his main goal was to stay healthy. He started the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a Triple-A team. In May, he injured a ligament in his elbow while sliding. This injury kept him out for the rest of the season. He played only 45 games, batting .274 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases. He played a few games in the Dominican League that winter.
.jpg)
Quinn started 2018 back with Lehigh Valley. In May, he tore a ligament in his right middle finger while diving. He needed surgery and spent weeks recovering. On July 27, 2018, the Phillies called him up to the major leagues. He was used as a pinch runner or pinch hitter. On August 21, he hit his first major league home run. In September, he broke a small bone in his pinky toe but continued to play. He finished the season hitting .260 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 50 games.
Quinn started the 2019 season on the injured list with a strained stomach muscle. He later returned and successfully stole home plate in a game. He even pitched in two games when the Phillies ran out of regular pitchers. On August 17, he injured his groin and did not play again that season. In 44 games in 2019, he batted .213 with four home runs and 11 runs batted in.
.jpg)
In 2020, Quinn was on the Phillies' Opening Day roster for the first time. On August 25, he stole two bases in one game, helping the Phillies get a season-high four stolen bases. He did it again on September 5. In that same game, he crashed into the outfield wall and had to follow concussion rules. In the 2020 season, which was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinn played in 41 games. He had two home runs, seven runs batted in, and 12 stolen bases, with a .213 batting average.
In 2021, Quinn was competing for the starting center field position. On May 26, while running around third base, Quinn collapsed. An MRI showed he had ruptured his Achilles tendon again. This injury ended his season after only 28 games. He had a .173 batting average and four stolen bases. On November 30, 2021, the Phillies released Quinn, making him a free agent.
Later Career
In 2022, Quinn signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. But he soon signed another minor league deal with the Phillies. He was called up to the major league team on April 25. He played 40 times, batting .162, before being released on June 1.
On June 8, 2022, Quinn signed with the Kansas City Royals. He was released by them on July 18. Just three days later, on July 21, 2022, Quinn signed a major league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 21 games for the Rays, batting .262. On November 10, he became a free agent again.
In 2023, Quinn signed with the Cleveland Guardians and later the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in their minor league systems. He then signed with the Colorado Rockies on July 29, 2023. He played 23 games for their Triple-A team, hitting two home runs and stealing nine bases. On September 14, he was released by the Rockies. After this, Roman Quinn decided to retire from professional baseball.
Player Profile
.jpg)
Roman Quinn is shorter than many baseball players, standing at 5 feet 9 inches. He is famous for his incredible speed when running the bases. Some people compared him to former Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins. In 2020, Quinn was the fastest player in MLB. He could run 30.4 feet per second. He said he became faster by losing 5 pounds during the offseason.
Former MLB outfielder Kenny Lofton helped Quinn learn a batting style that used his speed. This style helped him compete with bigger, slower power hitters. Quinn often tries to bunt or hit line drives. These techniques help him get on base safely. Once on base, he can use his speed to try and steal.
Like many fast hitters, Quinn is a switch hitter. The Phillies signed him as a right-handed hitter. But he used the time before his first professional season to learn to bat from both sides. Even with his fast and aggressive playing style, Quinn sometimes found it hard to get on base. Also, his career was often interrupted by many injuries. He never played more than 300 times in a season since 2014.
Personal Life
Roman Quinn married his girlfriend, Jenifer McLemore, on January 27, 2018. They have one daughter, Londyn Gabriella, born in 2014. They also have two sons, Khailan Grey (born 2019) and Oaklan Gabriel (born 2020). During the offseason, Quinn and his family live in Port St. Joe, Florida.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle, including Port St. Joe. Quinn's family was safe, but they lost power. His wife's family also had damage to their home. Quinn told reporters after the storm, "We will be cleaning up for years."
