Voyager Spotlight: Roman Key Cog in Kannapolis

Great Falls, MT-After plenty of success in his first professional stint with the Great Falls Voyagers in 2016, former White Sox 12^th round draft pick Mitch Roman has helped fuel a good start to the 2017 season for the Kannapolis Intimidators.
As of May 24^th, Kannapolis owns a 24-20 record and sits just 2.5 games back of first place in the Northern Division of the South Atlantic League. Roman, along with a handful of other former Voyagers, has played an instrumental part in the early season for the Intimidators. 

Roman is currently batting .302 with an on-base percentage of .351. He ranks second on the team in hitting to former Great Falls teammate Joel Booker, and sits in the top 20 in league rankings. In 42 games played, he has racked up 49 hits with 19 RBIs, five doubles and one triple. His average was a sizzling .463 after 12 games in the month of April. Roman has started most of the games defensively at second base this season.
The former Wright State University standout says he "expected to be in full-season this year. The goal is to start out in full-season, and just work yourself up from low-A to high-A and the ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues. But, it's wherever the organization sees you and how they view you as a player."
In 67 games with Great Falls last season, Roman made an impact with the bat and the glove in his first taste of pro ball. The Fishers, Indiana native played the majority of games defensively at shortstop and made several spectacular plays. He slashed .332/.392/.418 while hitting from various spots in the lineup. Roman collected 85 hits with 10 doubles and six triples. He stole 26 bases in 32 attempts and scored 52 runs for the Voyagers Pioneer League playoff team. Roman's versatility was evident in the fact that he produced whether he was at the top of the lineup or at the bottom. He finished the season ranked second in the Pioneer League in games played and second in stolen bases. Great Falls posted a league-best 47-28 overall record.
Roman says he has wonderful memories from the summer of 2016. "I had Tommy Thompson and Willie Harris in my first professional season. They taught me a lot. Don't get too high when things are going well. There are ups and downs and you have to stay consistent through it all. I had a really good time in Great Falls, it was a great group of guys. A 15-game winning streak is really rare. The coaching staff kept it loose and that's part of the reason why we kept on winning."
Before becoming a sought-after draft pick, Roman started his college career in the junior college ranks at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, OH. He then chose to stay in Dayton and attend Wright State. Prior to college ball, the 22-year-old amassed a good bit of knowledge from within his own family about the transitory nature of being a minor league baseball player. Roman's father, Dan, was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1987 out of Indiana State. He played in the 1986 College World Series and spent two seasons in the Yankees organization, mostly at shortstop and third base. He reached as high as double-A Albany-Colonie of the Eastern League, and his career batting average was .278. Roman says his dad threw to him a lot during the recent off-season to stay focused on "going up the middle to opposite-side hitting. I didn't really try to work on pulling the ball, that's something you adjust to in the games. I definitely try to stay up the middle to the right side and good things will come from it."
While Roman is playing the 2017 season in a new locale, he's doing it in the comfort of having already taken the field with many of his Intimidators' teammates during his time in Great Falls. In addition to the aforementioned Joel Booker, Roman is joined in Kannapolis by position players Max Dutto, Jameson Fisher, and Nate Nolan. His pitching teammates include Chris Comito, Bernardo Flores, Alec Hansen, Lane Hobbs, and Yosmer Solorzano. In fact, Roman had what turned out to be the game-winning double in extra innings at Augusta on May 10^th. That game was started by Solorzano, who worked seven strong innings in a no-decision, quality start to aid the 2-1 Kannapolis victory.
Back in November, Baseball America rated Mitch Roman as the top defensive infielder prospect in the White Sox system. The publication noted Roman's quickness, outstanding hands, and throwing arm. "I played short and second my whole life. It doesn't matter where I play defensively. I've even played some outfield. You never know, someone could go down (with an injury) or get called up. I'll play wherever they need me. You have to take pride in your defense. Ultimately, you'll receive recognition for it."
Roman hopes his work ethic and other intangibles will guide his ascent through the minors. "Just being consistent. Being consistent with my at-bats. Making tough plays in the field. If I keep on being consistent, I think the game will take care of itself and the organization will see what type of player I really am."
Great Falls opens the 2017 Pioneer League season on the road Monday, June 19^th at division-rival Helena. The Voyagers home opener, also against Helena, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21^st. For the entire schedule, ticket information, or news on other Voyagers related events, visit www.gfvoyagers.com or call 406-452-5311.