Romero leaving Orix to prioritize family
Stefen Romero became the latest imported player to choose family over playing baseball in Japan, the Pacific League’s Orix Buffaloes announcing Wednesday that they have put the slugging outfielder on waivers for the purpose of giving him his release, Nikkan Sports reported.
“It’s really regrettable, but it’s family so what can you do,” Orix GM Junichi Fukura said. “No matter what he tried he couldn’t maintain his motivation, and was correspondingly troubled.”
He’s the second Orix player to give up on playing in Japan this season without his family. Pitcher Brandon Dickson declined to report this year for his ninth season in Japan, and resumed his career in the United States. Currently in Triple-A with his first pro organization, the St. Louis Cardinals, Dickson is currently in Japan with the U.S. Olympic baseball team.
The 32-year-old Romero was in his fifth season in Japan. He returned to Orix after spending the 2020 season with the Rakuten Eagles, and was one of the many real good ones who made Japanese baseball better.
