Enny Romero

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Enny Romero

| image = Enny Manuel Romero Chiba Lotte Marines 20220515.jpg

| caption = Romero with the Chiba Lotte Marines

| width =

| team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|24}}

| birth_place = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 22

| debutyear = 2013

| debutteam = Tampa Bay Rays

|debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = April 4

| debut2year = 2019

| debut2team = Chunichi Dragons

| statyear = 2018 season

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 4–6

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 5.12

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 156

| stat2league = NPB

| stat2year = 2022 season

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 17–19

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 3.60

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 202

| teams =

Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2013}}, {{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2018}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2018}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2018}})
Chunichi Dragons ({{npby|2019}}–{{npby|2020}})
Chiba Lotte Marines ({{npby|2021}}–{{npby|2022}})

}}

Enny Manuel Romero Hernandez (born January 24, 1991) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Royals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.

Professional career

=Tampa Bay Rays=

Romero represented the Rays at the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120620&content_id=33666532&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Promising Rays duo cued for Futures Game] He was added to the Rays' 40-man roster on November 20, 2012.{{Cite web |url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121120&content_id=40387908&vkey=pr_tb&c_id=tb |title=Rays add four players to 40-man roster |access-date=2012-11-21 |archive-date=2014-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221224015/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121120&content_id=40387908&vkey=pr_tb&c_id=tb |url-status=dead }} Romero was called up to start against the Baltimore Orioles on September 22, 2013.{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130921&content_id=61329932&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb| title = Rays lefty prospect Romero to make debut Sunday {{!}} Tampa Bay Rays| work = Tampa Bay Rays}} After spending the entirety of the 2014 season in the minor leagues, Romero returned to major league action in the 2015 season as a reliever,{{cite news|url=http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2015/06/06/tampa-bay-rays-enny-romero-majors-stay/|agency=Rays Colored Glasses|title=Tampa Bay Rays: Is Enny Romero in the Majors To Stay?|first=Robbie|last=Knopf|date=June 6, 2015|access-date=July 15, 2017}} pitching 30 innings for the Rays on the year. Starting the 2016 season, Romero retired 17 consecutive batters across relief appearances to set a franchise record for the Rays.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-enny-romero-sets-franchise-record-with-help-of-cut-fastball/|agency=CBS Sports|title=Rays' Enny Romero: Sets franchise record with help of cut fastball|date=April 26, 2016|access-date=July 15, 2017}} Romero notched his first career save on August 25, 2016, striking out slugger David Ortiz to seal a Rays victory over the division rival Boston Red Sox.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/25/romero-strikes-out-ortiz-to-end-it-rays-hold-off-red-sox/89357724/|work=USA Today|title=Rays rookie RP Enny Romero strikes out David Ortiz to end game|date=August 25, 2016|access-date=July 15, 2017}} In total, Romero pitched to a 5.27 ERA over 80⅓ innings with the Rays across three seasons, exhibiting a high walk rate of about five batters per nine innings.{{cite news|url=https://www.federalbaseball.com/2017/3/13/14905030/nationals-enny-romero-impresses-in-wbc-earns-win-dominican-republic|title=Nationals' lefty Enny Romero impresses in WBC, earns win for Dominican Republic|agency=Federal Baseball|date=March 13, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2017|first=Patrick|last=Reddington}}

=Washington Nationals=

File:Enny Romero (34438285441) (cropped).jpg

The Rays traded Romero to the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Jeffrey Rosa on February 7, 2017.{{cite web| url = http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/02/07/nationals-acquire-enny-romero-from-the-rays/| title = Nationals acquire Enny Romero from the Rays - MLB {{!}} NBC Sports| date = 7 February 2017}}

Romero pitched for the Dominican Republic national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, earning the win in a March 12 game against Colombia with a scoreless inning of relief. He joined the Nationals at spring training after the initial round of the WBC.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/nationals-pastime/2017/03/postgame-thoughts-on-fedde-nathan-and-romero.html|agency=MASN Sports|title=Postgame thoughts on Fedde, Nathan and Romero|date=March 23, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2017|first=Mark|last=Zuckerman}}

With the Nationals, Romero quickly became a key cog in manager Dusty Baker's bullpen as it struggled to find its footing over the first half of the season, going through three closers before Baker decided to handle the ninth inning by committee.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2017/06/14/dusty-baker-says-he-told-you-so-the-save-by-committee-dont-really-work/|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Dusty Baker says he told you so: 'The save by committee don't really work'|first=Jorge|last=Castillo|date=June 14, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2017}} While Romero continued to walk batters at an above-average rate, as he had with Tampa Bay, his strikeout rate climbed and his earned run average declined relative to what it had been with the Rays. He was frequently deployed to handle the eighth and even the ninth inning.{{cite news|url=https://www.federalbaseball.com/2017/6/28/15889170/washington-nationals-enny-romero-turning-into-bullpen-weapon-dusty-baker|agency=Federal Baseball|title=Washington Nationals' Enny Romero turning into bullpen weapon for Dusty Baker...|first=Patrick|last=Reddington|date=June 28, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2017}}

Romero began the 2018 season on the Nationals′ roster, but in two appearances posted a 13.50 ERA in two innings of work.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romeren01.shtml baseball-reference.com Enny Romero] The Nationals designated him for assignment on April 7, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/nationals-designate-enny-romero-select-jhonatan-solanos-contract.html|title=Nationals Designate Enny Romero, Select Jhonatan Solano's Contract|last=Polishuk|first=Mark|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 7, 2018|access-date=April 7, 2018}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On April 14, 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Romero off waivers. He appeared in two games for the Pirates, hitting a double in his first at-bat, but in the four innings he pitched he gave up five runs, three of them unearned, on seven hits, giving him an ERA with Pittsburgh of 7.50. In order to make room on their roster for the major-league debut of pitching prospect Nick Kingham, the Pirates initially decided to designate Romero for assignment on April 29, but within hours changed their minds after Romero and his agent informed them that Romero had injured his shoulder while pitching on April 25. The Pirates instead opted to place him on the 10-day disabled list.[http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2018/04/29/Pirates-designate-lefty-Enny-Romero-for-assignment-Nick-Kingham/stories/201804290135 Brink, Bill, "Pirates place left-hander Enny Romero on 10-day disabled list," post-gazette.com, April 29, 2018, 5:18 p.m. EDT.][https://rumbunter.com/2018/04/30/pittsburgh-pirates-enny-romero-placed-disabled-list/ Caporoso, Nicholas, "Pittsburgh Pirates: Enny Romero Placed on the Disabled List," rumbunter.com, April 30, 2018.] He was designated for assignment on July 2.

=Kansas City Royals=

The Kansas City Royals claimed Romero off waivers on July 5, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2018/7/5/17539192/royals-claim-pitcher-enny-romero-off-waviers |date=July 5, 2018 |access-date=July 5, 2018 |title=Royals claim pitcher Enny Romero off waivers |first=Max |last=Rieper}} On July 21, 2018, he was designated for assignment.{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/mlbrostermoves/status/1020737172960350208| title = Twitter}} On July 26, 2018, Romero elected to become a free agent.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Steve |title=Enny Romero Elects Free Agency |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/enny-romero-elects-free-agency.html |website=MLBTradeRumors |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=27 July 2018}}

=Chunichi Dragons=

On December 3, 2018, it was announced that Romero had signed with the Chunichi Dragons in the NPB's Central League.{{ cite web | url=https://dragons.jp/news/2018/18120302.html | title=新外国人選手契約のお知らせ | work=中日ドラゴンズオフィシャルウェブサイト | language=ja | date=December 3, 2018 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }}

On April 4, 2019, Romero made his NPB debut.{{ cite web | url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/201904040001285.html | title=中日ロメロ初勝利「送るよ」記念球はドミニカの母へ | work=日刊スポーツ | language=ja | date=April 4, 2019 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }} After the season, he re-signed with Dragons.

On December 2, 2020, he became a free agent.{{ cite web | url=http://npb.jp/announcement/2020/pn_released.html | title=2020年度自由契約選手 | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | language=ja | access-date=January 9, 2021 }}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On January 14, 2021, Romero signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization that included an invitation to major league Spring Training.{{cite web| url = https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/dodgers-to-sign-enny-romero-to-minor-league-deal.html| title = Dodgers To Sign Enny Romero To Minor League Deal - MLB Trade Rumors| date = January 15, 2021}} He was released on April 4, 2021.

=Chiba Lotte Marines=

On August 10, 2021, Romero signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=https://www.marines.co.jp/news/detail/00006943.html|title=Chiba Lotte Marines Press release 2021/08/10(火) ロメロ投手・ペラルタ選手入団会見|language=ja-JP|work=Chiba Lotte Marines Official site|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}} He made 4 appearances for the team down the stretch, recording a 1.54 ERA with 20 strikeouts.

Romero made 20 appearances for Lotte during the 2022 season, compiling an 8–9 record and 3.36 ERA with 77 strikeouts across {{fraction|115|1|3}} innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.

=SSG Landers=

On December 12, 2022, Romero signed with the SSG Landers of the KBO League. He began the 2023 season on the injured list with a shoulder injury, and did not appear in a game for the team. On May 3, 2023, Romero was released by the Landers following the signing of Roenis Elías.{{Cite web|title=Roenis Elías Signs With KBO's SSG Landers|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/05/roenis-elias-signs-with-kbos-ssg-landers.html|access-date=2023-05-03|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 3, 2023 |language=en}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On December 21, 2024, Romero signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web|title=MLB: LIDOM Pitcher of the Year Candidate Heads to the Giants|url=https://en.albat.com/amp/thebigs/mlb-lidom-pitcher-of-the-year-candidate-heads-to-the-giants-20241220-0016.html|access-date=December 24, 2024|website=en.albat.com|language=en}} He did not make an appearance for the organization before he was released on May 9, 2025.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-05-09/p-2

Pitching style

Romero's main weapon is a blazing fastball, which he threw in the high 90s while in the Tampa Bay Rays organization but which began routinely hitting the century mark in 2017, beginning at the World Baseball Classic. In a July 2017 game with the Washington Nationals, Romero hit {{convert|102|mph}} with his fastball in a strikeout of Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/byron-kerr/2017/07/grace-and-romero-shine-for-bullpen-to-end-first-half.html|title=Grace and Romero shine for bullpen to end first half|agency=MASN Sports|first=Byron|last=Kerr|date=July 10, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2017}} Romero also mixes in a cutter that rides in at about {{convert|90|mph}}, as well as an occasional curveball.{{cite news|url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/4/10/11366858/what-to-expect-from-tampa-bay-rays-rookie-enny-romero|agency=Minor League Ball|title=What to expect from Tampa Bay Rays rookie Enny Romero|first=John|last=Sickels|date=April 10, 2016|access-date=July 15, 2017}}

Perhaps the most notable drawback in Romero's game throughout his professional career has been a lack of command, with a high walk rate coloring his time in Tampa Bay. During 2017 spring training with the Nationals, a MASN Sports beat reporter noted that he appeared to have made adjustments allowing him to better locate his pitches, and Romero exhibited improved command into the 2017 season.

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=544836|espn=|br=r/romeren01|fangraphs=|brm=romero001enn|retro=}}

[https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/03505138.html Career statistics - NPB.jp]
[https://www.marines.co.jp/team/player/detail/2021_91.html 91 エンニー・ロメロ選手名鑑2021] - Chiba Lotte Marines Official site {{in lang|ja}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Águilas Cibaeñas players

Category:Altoona Curve players

Category:Bowling Green Hot Rods players

Category:Bradenton Marauders players

Category:Charlotte Stone Crabs players

Category:Chunichi Dragons players

Category:Chiba Lotte Marines players

Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Japan

Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States

Category:Dominican Summer League Rays players