DUNEDIN, Fla. – Roemon Fields gave up on baseball after college, but made his return to the sport he loves by joining the Toronto Blue Jays organization after lots of convincing from family.
DUNEDIN, Fla. – March 9, 2017 – Roemon Fields (40) leans against a fence during practice at the Bobby Mattick Training Center. (Jonathan Cheng/Toronto Observer)
Following a career at Yakima Valley Community College and Bethany College, the undrafted 26-year-old worked at Lids before getting a job with the post office to deliver mail.
A former coach from Yakima asked the outfielder to play in the World Baseball Challenge, in British Columbia, but he was reluctant to break his work routine.
“You’re starting to work, getting into the flow of things,” said Fields, in an interview at the Bobby Mattick Training Center last Thursday. “I didn’t want to be playing just for playing.”
The former Yak eventually participated in the tournament, and was noticed by Toronto Blue Jays scout Matt Bishoff. When Fields received a contract offer from the Blue Jays, there was still a lingering feeling of doubt to return to the sport.
“I was kind of negative on myself and toward baseball,” said Fields. “My focus was income coming in, I had a family to help out.”
It was up to his grandmother to convince Fields to take another chance on himself, and she eventually saw her grandson play professional baseball when the Class-A Vancouver Canadians played against the Everett AquaSox.
Since his return to the sport in 2014, the Seattle native has stolen 138 bases while only getting caught 39 times. He has his family to thank for their support.
“They root for me everyday,” said Fields. “They want me to make it to the big leagues — my dream come true.”
He is still humble when asked where he thinks he’ll end up this season.
“Wherever the team puts me or needs me, I don’t think or get caught up in that stuff,” said Fields. “I’m out here to get better everyday, and hopefully (the coaches) see it as well.”