Noelberth Romero's graduation was a proud day for O's organization

When catcher Samuel Basallo of the Dominican Republic, who just turned 19, recently moved into the top 50 of a couple of top 100 prospects lists, it was an important milestone for the Orioles’ international program.

He is the first player from the international program since Mike Elias and his front office took over to make a top 100 and now a top 50. A strong accomplishment for the international program.

But recently at Low Single-A Delmarva, there was another big night that was pretty important as well and had meaning for a lot of people. Noelberth Romero, 21, from Caracas, Venezuela, became a high school graduate.

It was a proud moment for Romero, his family and the Orioles organization. Dressed in cap and gown, he was presented his diploma by Shorebirds manager Felipe Alou Jr. There was a clubhouse celebration for Romero in addition to an on-field ceremony.

Among the first to sign up for the O’s education program in 2020, Romero becomes the first to make it to the finish line – graduation. He now becomes a role model for others who want to join him in the O’s Latin American program.

“My mom almost cried. My father was very happy and proud of me. Very excited,” Romero told me in a recent interview.

“It’s important for everybody. I am a professional baseball player, but also now a high school guy. It means a lot. If for any reason I can’t play baseball, I can do whatever I want.”

An infielder that has seen time this year at all four infield spots, Romero has also played at some point this year at all four full season O’s affiliates. But he has spent most of his time with the Shorebirds.

He sounded proud that he is the first but certainly won’t be the last graduate among the Dominican and Venezuelan players on the O’s watch.

“Exactly. We have an example and other players have an example. If I did it, you can do it. I know players will do it and join me. Some players said they were proud of me and now they want to do this,” said Romero who speaks English well and did this interview in English.

Romero began this program during the Covid season of 2020 where he took a heavier load of classes with all the down time and got a real head start toward his graduation.

Anaima Garcia is the Orioles’ education coordinator. She encouraged and pushed Romero toward this achievement. Seeing a player who was there when the program began a couple of years ago, complete his high school education is meaningful to her and the organization.

“We started offering the high school program back in fall, 2020,” Garcia explained. “It would be a similar program to them trying to get the GED. It’s more flexible and adjusts better to their career in general. It is relatively self-paced, and they have a whole semester to work on their subjects. It is an online program, but we supplement it with our own in-house teachers. It is a good fit for us because if players are traveling, we can connect them with teachers through Zoom. And it is a program they can do in two to three years.

“Romero was among the first volunteers to try out the program and see how it adapted with our day-to-day operations and our goals. He was not only our first player to be enrolled, he is the first one who got to the finish line.”

Romero’s ceremony was attended by the club’s Senior Director, International Scouting Koby Perez. Garcia could not be in Salisbury that night, but it was a very proud moment for her too.

“It was beautiful. I told him I want the video so I can cry at home and be happy,” she said. “He is our first player to accomplish this. More than the accomplishment, he was the perfect student. He really owned it. He went for it. He wanted this. Our players need to want to do this. It’s a big ask and a big responsibility.

“The day that we gave him the diploma I wrote a message to our young players. I told them, ‘This is your example.’ He spent so much class time while he was in the U.S. He did this while in rookie ball, he did it with Delmarva. Most of his studying was in the hardest parts of his career, transitioning from one affiliate to another. He had to make so many adjustments, but he never gave up. This makes his graduation extraordinary.”

Added Romero: “You need to put a lot of time into this. But hopefully new guys have an example that they can do it. It is amazing to be the first one. I feel really good and Anaima is a really good teacher – she pushed me a lot. That is one reason I am here.”

There are other players that began this program with the Orioles, have graduated but are no longer with the organization. And there could be another ceremony soon in Delmarva. Right-handed pitcher Randy Beriguete, 20, finished his program in June and is awaiting his diploma.

The Orioles do not make this program mandatory. But clearly, they see it as important. In a way it could be part of the recruiting process for players they look to sign. Players realize that not only will the Orioles help them improve as ballplayers, but they can finish their education too.

“It is not required, because of the effort that you need to put in,” said Garcia, who added there are 20 to 25 players in the program currently. “And because you are enrolled in the high school program, we will not lower our standards with other aspects of our baseball development like language, culture, life skills. We believe that you need to want this and as an org, we cannot want it more than you. And while it is an important milestone in life, every person has a limit on what they can handle successfully at the same time.”

Romero has been with the Orioles since July 13, 2019. He was acquired from Boston when they traded Andrew Cashner to the Red Sox. He is batting .220 with an OPS of .640 with the Shorebirds this season.

We don’t know how far he will advance in his career or if he will one day make the major leagues, but we now know he does have a high school education to fall back on for the rest of his life.

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