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Ricky Romero

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Ricky Romero
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 24
Starting pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
debut
April 14, 2009, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Career statistics
(through October 5, 2009)
Win-Loss13-9
Earned run average4.30
Strikeouts141
Teams
For the wrestler, see Ricky Romero (wrestler).

Ricardo "Ricky" Romero, Jr. (born November 6, 1984 in East Los Angeles, California) is an American baseball player in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Romero stands at 6'1" and weighs 195 pounds. He throws left-handed and bats right-handed.

Prep career

After spending three years at Garfield High School, Romero graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles. In his senior year he was named L.A. City Section co-player of the year and Eastern League co-MVP for baseball, going (12-1) with a 0.53 ERA and 162 strikeouts for the Rough Riders.[1]

College career

Upon graduation, Romero attended Cal State Fullerton from 2001 to 2005. The lefty starter helped the Titans capture a National Title in the 2004 College World Series, pitching the team into the semifinals past Miami (FL) and winning game one of the World Series against Texas. He was also selected to the All-Tournament team for that season and played for the U.S. National Team pitching to a (3-1) record with a 1.57 ERA. In 2005 he led Fullerton in wins (13) and the Titans returned to the World Series.[2]

Professional career

Romero was drafted by the Blue Jays as the sixth overall pick of the 2005 amateur entry draft.[3] After signing with Toronto in June of that year, with a signing bonus of $2.1 million, Romero made his professional debut for the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season A affiliated New York-Penn League. He was promoted to Class A Dunedin after that appearance. Both 2006 and 2007 were short, injury-riddled seasons for the southpaw, with Romero suffering from shoulder and elbow problems. Finally healthy in 2008, Romero struggled with control problems with a career high 55 walks for Double-A New Hampshire. He received a late year call up to Triple-A Syracuse and earned Player of the Week honors as a member of the Chiefs on September 1.[4]

Due to his struggles with injuries and consistency, his prominent selection by the Blue Jays in the first round of 2005 has been a source of much debate and second guessing in Toronto. The relative success of those in the first round of his draft class including shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (drafted one spot after Romero), All-Star outfielder Ryan Braun (one spot before Romero), and ALCS MVP Matt Garza have led to much criticism of the pick, and of Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi. [5]

Promotion to Major Leagues

On March 30, 2009, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston announced that Romero had earned one of the two open rotation spots for the 2009 MLB season. This came after a strong 7-inning outing against Philadelphia the night before.

On April 9, Romero made his Major League debut against Detroit, opposite Tigers rookie pitcher Rick Porcello. The game marked the first time in MLB history that two first-round picks faced each other in their respective debuts.[6] Romero earned the win while surrendering two runs on seven hits over six innings in the Blue Jays' 6-2 victory.[7] Romero pitched strongly in his next two starts, getting a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins, and defeating the Oakland Athletics. He had a 2-0 record and a 1.71 ERA in his first three starts. But Romero went onto the disabled list on April 20 with a strained right oblique muscle after a violent sneeze. [8] The Jays, surprising many observers by holding first place for the month of April despite many injuries to their key pitchers, hoped he will be ready to return to their lineup by mid-May.[9] Romero was called up from Triple A Las Vegas 51's along with Casey Janssen, after a successful rehab assignment in the minor leagues to evaluate his progress. After struggling somewhat upon his return, Romero found an outstanding run of form in late June and early July, defeating the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies (June 26), the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays (July 1), and the perennial powerhouse New York Yankees (July 6) in three successive starts. On July 6, Romero tied the Blue Jays rookie record for consecutive scoreless innings with 24 against the NY Yankees, before giving up a home run to Eric Hinske in the fourth inning. Jays' manager Cito Gaston said Romero was by this time considered the team's #2 starter, behind Roy Halladay. Romero finished the season with a 13-9 record, a 4.30 ERA, and with a 141 strikeouts in 29 games.

Romero's name is currently rumoured to be one of the leading candidates for the 2009 MLB Rookie of the Year award.Others include Chicago White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham. Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello, and again Chicago White Sox infielder Jayson Nix

References

  1. ^ "MLB Profile". Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  2. ^ "Cal State Fullerton Profile". Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  3. ^ "MLB 2005 Player Draft page". Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  4. ^ "MiLB Player Profile". Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  5. ^ "RealGM.com Interview". Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  6. ^ Cabrera homers twice as Tigers beat Blue Jays 5-1
  7. ^ Tigers' Rick Porcello loses debut to Toronto
  8. ^ http://www.canada.com/sports/tennis/Jays+Romero+Ryan+disabled+list/1527489/story.html
  9. ^ Gaston faces big decisions on rotation, by Robert MacLeod, The Globe and Mail, April 30, 2009, p. S2.
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