Roman Quinn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roman Quinn |
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Quinn in September 2018
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 14, 1993 Port St. Joe, Florida, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||
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Roman Quinn, born on May 14, 1993, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was a speedy center fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays.
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 amazing 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. At first, his great hitting and running skills earned him the nickname "Human Highlight Reel." However, starting in 2013, Quinn faced many injuries. These injuries often kept him off the field for long periods. Despite these challenges, he made his major league debut in September 2016.
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Roman's Early Life and 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 football. Roman went to Port St. Joe High School. He played on the same football team as Calvin Pryor, who later played in the National Football League (NFL).
Roman was a three-sport athlete. In basketball, he scored about 20.6 points per game and earned all-state honors. In football, he was a return specialist and defensive back. For baseball, he played in center field. In 2011, during his senior year, 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 strong hitter, with a .458 batting average in 2010.
Roman's Professional Baseball Career
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies
Starting in the Minor Leagues
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 turned down that offer to sign with the Phillies for $775,000.
Because he signed late, Quinn could not start playing until the 2012 season. He began his professional career with the Williamsport Crosscutters. Even though he hit right-handed and played outfield in high school, he learned to be a switch hitter and played shortstop for the Crosscutters. Reporters noticed his unique hitting style, where he would hit the ball on the ground and then run fast. They called him the "Human Highlight Reel." He finished that season with a .281 batting average and 30 stolen bases. His 11 triples were the most in his league.
In 2013, Baseball America ranked Quinn as the second-best young player in the Phillies' minor league system. He started the season with the Lakewood BlueClaws. In June 2013, Quinn broke a bone in his right wrist, which ended his season early. He had 32 stolen bases in 67 games. During the off-season, he tore his right Achilles tendon. This injury kept him from playing at the start of 2014.
Quinn returned to play in May 2014 with the Clearwater Threshers. He started as a shortstop but moved back to center field later that season. He was often the team's leadoff hitter. He batted .257 with 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.
The next year, Quinn played for the Reading Fightin Phils. In July, he was chosen for the Eastern League All-Star Classic. At that time, he led the league with 29 stolen bases. However, he did not play in the game. In June, he suffered a serious hip injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. In November 2015, the Phillies added Quinn to their main roster to protect him. He batted .306 in 2015. After recovering, he played in the Dominican Professional Baseball League that winter.
Quinn rejoined Reading for the 2016 season. He wanted to learn to play all outfield positions. But injuries continued to affect him. He strained a muscle in his stomach in June. He returned too soon, which made the injury worse. He also got hit in the head in August, causing a concussion. Despite these injuries, Quinn finished the year with a .302 batting average and 36 stolen bases in 77 games.
Reaching the Major Leagues
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When the minor league season ended in 2016, Quinn was called up to the Phillies' main team. 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. In 15 major league games that year, he batted .263 with five stolen bases.
For the 2017 season, Quinn told reporters his main goal was to stay healthy. He started the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In May, he injured his elbow while sliding into third base. This injury kept him out for the rest of the season. He played in 45 games for Lehigh, batting .274. That winter, he played a few games in the Dominican League.
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After playing in spring training with the Phillies in 2018, Quinn returned to Lehigh Valley. In May, he tore a ligament in his right middle finger. He needed surgery and spent several weeks recovering. On July 27, 2018, Quinn was called back up to the Phillies. He was used as a pinch runner or pinch hitter. His first major league home run came on August 21. Quinn finished the 2018 season with a .260 batting average and 10 stolen bases in 50 games.
Quinn started the 2019 season on the injured list with a strained stomach muscle. He returned to the team and even successfully stole home plate in a game. On two occasions in 2019, Quinn was asked to pitch in games when the Phillies ran out of other pitchers. He became the first Phillies position player since 1961 to pitch three times in his career. In August, he suffered a groin injury that ended his season. In 44 games in 2019, Quinn batted .213 with four home runs.
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In 2020, Quinn made his first-ever Opening Day roster. This was a big achievement for him. On August 25, he stole two bases in one game. He did it again on September 5. In that same game, he crashed into the outfield wall while chasing a ball and had to leave the game. In the 2020 season, which was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinn played in 41 games. He had two home runs and 12 stolen bases.
In 2021, Quinn was competing for the starting center field position. On May 26, while running around the bases, Quinn collapsed. An MRI showed that he had ruptured his Achilles tendon again. This serious injury ended his season after only 28 games. He batted .173 with four stolen bases. In November 2021, the Phillies decided not to keep Quinn, making him a free agent.
On April 9, 2022, the Phillies signed Quinn to a minor league contract again. He was called up to the major league team on April 25. However, he was later removed from the team on June 1. He then chose to become a free agent.
Playing for Other Teams
On June 8, 2022, Quinn signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He was released by the Royals in July.
Soon after, 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. In November, he became a free agent again.
In 2023, Quinn signed minor league contracts with the Cleveland Guardians and then the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in a few games for their minor league teams. On July 29, 2023, he signed with the Colorado Rockies. He played 23 games for their Triple-A team. After being released by the Rockies in September, Roman Quinn decided to retire from professional baseball.
Coaching Career
On February 12, 2025, Roman Quinn was hired as a coach for the FCL Braves. This is a rookie-level team for the Atlanta Braves.
Roman's Playing Style
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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 the retired Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins. In 2020, Quinn was one of the fastest players in MLB. He could run about 30.4 feet per second. He said he improved his speed by losing some weight.
A former MLB outfielder, Kenny Lofton, helped Quinn learn how to hit in a way that used his speed. This helped him compete with bigger, slower power hitters. Quinn often tries to bunt or hit line drives. These hits allow him to get on base safely, where he can then try to steal bases.
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 how to hit from both sides of the plate. Even with his speed, Quinn sometimes struggled to get on base. Also, his frequent injuries were a concern throughout his career.
Roman's Personal Life
Roman Quinn married his girlfriend, Jenifer McLemore, on January 27, 2018. They have one daughter, Londyn Gabriella, born on July 8, 2014. They also have two sons, Khailan Grey, born on February 7, 2019, and Oaklan Gabriel, born on October 19, 2020. During the baseball off-season, Roman and his family live in Port St. Joe, Florida.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael hit the area where Quinn and his family lived. While no one in his family was hurt, they lost power. His wife's family also had damage to their home. Quinn told reporters that they would be cleaning up for years after the storm.
