Tommy Romero

{{Infobox MLB player

|name = Tommy Romero

|image = File:Tommy Romero.jpg

|caption = Romero in 2019 with the Charlotte Stone Crabs

|team = Chicago Cubs

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|7|8}}

|birth_place = Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 12

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Tampa Bay Rays

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 1–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 10.80

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 7

|teams =

Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2022}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2022}})

}}

Tommy Romero (born July 8, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals.

Amateur career

Romero graduated from Coral Springs Charter School in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://thesrbaseball.com/tommy-romero/|title=TOMMY ROMERO - Selective Recruiting Baseball|website=thesrbaseball.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}} Unselected in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Polk State College where he played baseball.{{cite web|url=https://www.theledger.com/article/20160206/News/608076848|title=Browning's blast edges Mocs over Argonauts|first=Ledger wire|last=reports|website=The Ledger|access-date=December 14, 2018}} After his freshman year in 2016, he transferred to Eastern Florida State College. As a sophomore in 2017, he won nine games, compiled a 1.13 ERA, and led the NJCAA in strikeouts with 136.{{cite journal|url=http://www.efsctitans.com/sports/bsb/2016-17/releases/20170614l2eev3|title=Tommy Romero drafted in 15th round by Seattle Mariners|date=June 14, 2017|website=EFSC Titans|access-date=December 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2016-17/div1/leaders|title=NJCAA|website=NJCAA|access-date=December 14, 2018}}

Professional career

=Seattle Mariners=

After his sophomore season, Romero was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 15th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/sports/college/efsc/2017/06/14/efsc-pitcher-romero-drafted-seattle-mariners/102858424/|title=EFSC pitcher Romero drafted by Seattle Mariners|website=Florida Today|access-date=December 14, 2018}} Romero signed and made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Mariners, going 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA in {{fraction|43|1|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web|url=http://www.pointstreaksites.com/view/southfloridacollegiateleague/news-576/news_492554|title=Romero Shines in First Year of Professional Baseball - South Florida Collegiate Baseball League|website=www.pointstreaksites.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}} He began 2018 with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single-A Midwest League.{{cite web|url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2018/4/2/17191132/2018-mariners-minors-preview-clinton-lumberkings-denny-hocking|title=2018 Mariners Minors Preview: Clinton LumberKings|first=Ben|last=Thoen|date=April 2, 2018|website=Lookout Landing|access-date=December 14, 2018}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On May 25, 2018, the Mariners traded Romero and Andrew Moore to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Denard Span and Álex Colomé.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-colome-denard-span-traded-to-mariners/c-278282934|title=Mariners acquire Colome, Span from Rays: Club sends out young arms Moore, Romero in deal to bolster depth|work=MLB.com|first=Greg|last=Johns|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=May 25, 2018}} He was assigned to the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Single-A Midwest League, with whom he was named an All-Star.{{cite web|url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/hot_rods/romero-feeling-at-home-with-new-team/article_078b990a-1fcb-5224-a49d-841d00d52c02.html|title=Romero feeling at home with new team|first=Micheal|last=Compton|website=Bowling Green Daily News|date=July 22, 2018 |access-date=December 14, 2018}} In 25 total starts between Clinton and Bowling Green, he went 11-4 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=676720#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Tommy Romero Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=October 18, 2018}} He spent a majority of the 2019 season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High-A Florida State League, pitching to a 12-4 record with a 1.89 ERA over 23 games (18 starts), striking out 103 over {{fraction|119|1|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.draysbay.com/2019/4/6/18297020/rays-prospects-minor-leagues-april-6-2019-josh-lowe-velazquez |title = Rays prospects and minor leagues: Josh Lowe, Biscuits improve to 2-0|date = April 6, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/09/23/tampa-bay-rays-name-shortstop-wander-franco-pitcher-joe-ryan-top-minor-leaguers/|title=Tampa Bay Rays name shortstop Wander Franco, pitcher Joe Ryan top minor-leaguers|website=Tampa Bay Times}} He made one spot start for the Montgomery Biscuits of the Double-A Southern League at the end of the season. He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|title = 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled|website = MLB.com}} That winter, he played for Criollos de Caguas of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC).{{cite web| url = https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/tommy-romero-lanzar-frente-a-los-caimanes-de-barranquilla/article_3e95da30-65a6-11eb-ac4c-07d04781ccfa.html| title = Tommy Romero lanzará frente a los Caimanes de Barranquilla {{!}} Deportes {{!}} elvocero.com| date = February 2, 2021}} He also played for Puerto Rico in the 2021 Caribbean Series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/caribbean-series-baseball-mazatlan-mexico-03-feb-2021-11744999q|title = Puerto Ricos starting pitcher Tommy Romero throws Editorial Stock Photo - Stock Image | Shutterstock}}

To begin the 2021 season, Romero was assigned back to Montgomery, now members of the Double-A South.{{Cite web|url=https://www.draysbay.com/2021/4/10/22354562/tampa-bay-rays-prospects-montgomery-baz-edwards|title = Projecting minor league rosters: Double-A Montgomery|date = April 10, 2021}} After pitching to a 1-0 record with a 1.88 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 48 innings, he was promoted to the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A East in July.{{Cite web|url=https://www.draysbay.com/2021/7/27/22587674/rays-prospects-minor-leagues-july-27-2021-aranda-bradley|title = Rays prospects and minor leagues: Myers, Romero earn promotions to Triple A|date = July 27, 2021}} He earned Triple-A East Pitcher of the Month honors for September after going 5-0 with a 0.31 ERA over five starts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/press-release/minor-league-baseball-announces-2021-triple-a-league-awards-all-star-teams-aviat|title = Minor League Baseball Announces 2021 Triple-A League Awards & All-Star Teams; Aviators catcher Carlos Pérez named to Triple-A West Team!}} Over 12 total starts with Durham, Romero went 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA and seventy strikeouts over {{fraction|62|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/tampa-bay-rays-triple-a-affiliate-durham-bulls-win-best-team-milby-award|title = Durham bullies field to Best Team MiLBY Award}}

On November 19, 2021, the Rays selected Romero's contract and added him to the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2021/11/19/rays-trade-brent-honeywell-add-four-prospects-to-roster/|title = Rays trade Brent Honeywell, add four prospects to roster}} He returned to Durham to begin the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/durham/news/durham-bulls-announce-2022-opening-day-roster|title=Durham Bulls Announce 2022 Opening Day Roster}} After his first start, the Rays promoted Romero to the major leagues on April 12 and he made his MLB debut that night as the starting pitcher versus the Oakland Athletics at Tropicana Field.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-tommy-romero-call-up-official/|title = Rays' Tommy Romero: Call-up official| date=April 12, 2022 }} Coincidentally, the starting pitcher for the Athletics was Adam Oller, who was also making his MLB debut in the game.{{Cite web|url=https://sportsnaut.com/both-starting-pitchers-making-mlb-debut-as-as-visit-rays/|title = Both starting pitchers making MLB debut as A's visit Rays|date = 12 April 2022}} He pitched {{fraction|1|2|3}} innings, giving up three earned runs on five walks, two hits, one home run, and one strikeout.{{cite web | last=Brew | first=Tom | title=Just For Starters: Breaking Down Tommy Romero's Debut With Rays on Tuesday | website=SI.com | date=2022-04-12 | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rays/news/just-for-starters-breaking-down-tommy-romero-debut-with-tampa-bay-rays | access-date=2025-02-16}} On July 14, Romero recorded his first career win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox.{{Cite web|title=Former Coral Springs Charter Pitcher Tommy Romero Picks up 1st MLB Win|url=https://coralspringstalk.com/coral-springs-charter-tommy-romero-picks-41105/amp|access-date=2023-05-24|website=coralspringstalk.com|language=en}} He was designated for assignment on August 23, 2022.

=Washington Nationals=

Romero was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals on August 25, 2022. He was immediately optioned to the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings.{{cite news|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/nationals-claim-tommy-romero-from-rays.html|agency=MLB Trade Rumors|title=Nationals Claim Tommy Romero From Rays|first=Mark|last=Polishuk|date=August 25, 2022|accessdate=August 26, 2022}} On November 15, Romero was designated for assignment. On November 18, he was non–tendered by the Nationals and became a free agent.{{Cite web|title=Tommy Romero: Non-tendered after DFA|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tommy-romero-non-tendered-after-dfa/|access-date=July 31, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=November 19, 2022 |language=en}}

Romero re-signed with the Nationals on a minor league contract on December 14, 2022. He made 36 appearances (10 starts) for Rochester, compiling a 5–7 record and 5.44 ERA with 82 strikeouts across {{fraction|87|2|3}} innings pitched. Romero elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 14, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On January 25, 2024, Romero signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=2024-01-27 |title=Giants Sign Tommy Romero To Minor League Deal |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/giants-sign-tommy-romero-to-minor-league-deal.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} In 19 games (8 starts) for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he posted a 4-1 record and 3.14 ERA with 66 strikeouts across {{fraction|71|2|3}} innings pitched. Romero elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}

=Guerreros de Oaxaca=

On January 23, 2025, Romero signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.{{Cite tweet|user=GuerrerosOax|number=1882517025035288961|title=¡ES MOMENTO DE FORTALECER NUESTRO PITCHEO!⚾️🔥 Se une a nuestras Filas el ya experimentado pitcher Tommy Romero⚔️ Bienvenido Tommy, estamos ansiosos de verte en la loma de los disparos repartiendo ponches🍫 #ComienzaLaGuerra #SomosGuerreros⚔️|date=23 January 2025|language=es|access-date=25 January 2025}} In two starts for Oaxaca, Romero struggled to a 7.27 ERA with eight strikeouts across {{fraction|8|2|3}} innings pitched.