While young slugger Gary Sanchez, fresh off a record-setting 2016 Rookie of the Year runner-up performance, was recovering from a muscle strain behind his right bicep, Romine was thrust into the Opening Day role behind the plate, where he thrived for much of the first month of the season.

"You never want to see your starting catcher get hurt," Romine told YES Network. "I don't think anybody wishes that upon anybody, but thankfully that was a time for me to help my team, to show them what I'm worth, and to really earn [my] place amongst them and earn trust."

Over that 19-game span from April 8 to May 2, Romine didn't just hold down the fort, he hit .316 and slugged .456 with a pair of homers and 10 RBI.

"It was absolutely the most fun I've ever had playing baseball in my entire life, to be starting for the New York Yankees," Romine said.

"It was a month, but that was the funnest month in baseball I've ever had. We were winning a lot of games, it was fun, but mainly it was my chance to show the team I'm here and I can help us win baseball games."

Whatever the team has asked of Romine, he has provided without complaint. Whether it's a number change (he's worn six different numbers in seven seasons, including a new move to No. 28 due to the arrival of Giancarlo Stanton), or staying content in the reserve job that he's held for much of his career, Romine comes to work with a blue-collar attitude.

"There's 25 guys that get to put on the pinstripes, that get to play, and the main thing you want when you're on a team is for them to trust you, 'cause when you're a catcher, a lot of these pitchers are trusting you with their careers and their numbers and their income, and you have to be ready," Romine explained. 

"I want to show every person that watches me, 'Romine's ready to play this game. Romine's going to play through stuff that maybe some people can't.' I don't have the luxury of not playing through some stuff.

"My mom always said, 'If it ain't broke, get back out there,' so I've kind of adopted that mentality and put myself in that mental state of mind, so that when something does happen or I face some adversity, it's easy to just keep the blinders on and keep pushing," said Romine.

That kind of mental toughness is exactly what drives Romine, and what makes him a respected leader in the clubhouse even if his playing time doesn't match the kind of impact he's made for the pitching staff and on his teammates.

When Sanchez did return from the disabled list on May 5, 2017, Romine knew his next chance to be the Yankees' everyday catcher may not arise anytime soon.

"It was definitely a difficult transition to go from playing every day to playing every fourth or fifth day, but I'm a big guy. Knowing your role and knowing your lane and staying in it," Romine said.

"My job went from playing every day, and bridging the gap until our starting catcher, who's an All-Star, could come back, and I just was trying to do the best I could to get us back to when Gary could come back. It was tough to transition back to playing every four or five days but I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. It's my job, it's why I was here. I always say, you've got to find a way, and there's always a way if you're willing to work hard."

Perhaps Romine's most noteworthy moment as a Yankee came Aug, 24, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, when the veteran backstop found himself in the center of what became a massive bench-clearing brawl between both squads.

Romine and Miguel Cabrera exchanged heated words in the batter's box, and in the blink of an eye, Cabrera had shoved Romine and ignited the dramatic donnybrook.

"You protect your team, and you have to protect yourself, and I wasn't going to let someone be confrontational and throw punches at me," Romine explained after the game, earning widespread praise from Yankees fans and teammates.

Hard work and toughness have propelled Romine, the son and brother of former and current Major Leaguers, to continue to suit up and come prepared to work every day for the last 11 years for the Bombers.

While Sanchez's two-way talents will keep him at the top of the depth chart barring any further injuries, Romine is still extremely excited for what the future holds for this year's club.

"This is definitely the most fun team that I've been a part of. The unity and the chemistry that this team exhibits on a daily basis is unmatched in the last 11 years of being here in the Yankees," Romine said. 

"I mean, I got to play with Hall of Famers and watch some great baseball, but everybody should be excited about this team. I think everybody is, and I think we proved last year why they should be. I'm just very blessed and fortunate enough to still be a part of the Yankees organization, and be thought of to help this team win games."