JoJo Romero
Romero with the Philadelphia Phillies
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 59
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-09) September 9, 1996
Camarillo, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 21, 2020, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record4–2
Earned run average4.95
Strikeouts77
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Mexico
World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place2023 MiamiTeam

Joseph Abel "Jojo" Romero (born September 9, 1996), is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2020 to 2022. He has played for the Mexico national baseball team.

Early life

Romero was born on September 9, 1996, in Camarillo, California, the eldest of three children. He cites his experience watching his father play in a Southern California baseball league as inspiring him to take up the sport.[1] He is of Mexican descent, and got his nickname from his grandfather who couldn't pronounce his name in English.

Baseball career

Romero attended Oxnard High School in Oxnard, California. In 2013, as a junior, he went 10–2 with a 1.24 earned run average (ERA) along with batting .308.[2] Romero then played college baseball at the University of Nevada and Yavapai College.[3]

Minor leagues

Romero was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round (107th pick overall) of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5] After signing, Romero made his professional debut with the Williamsport Crosscutters.[6] He spent the whole season there, going 2–2 with a 2.56 ERA in ten games.

In 2017, Romero played for the Lakewood BlueClaws and Clearwater Threshers. After posting a combined 10–3 (W–L) record, with a 2.16 ERA, and 128 strikeouts, he was named the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the year.[7] Showing a glimpse of Romero’s enormous promise, on May 10, 2017, he threw eight one-hit innings against the Greenville Drive, in a BlueClaws home victory at FirstEnergy Park.[8]

In 2018, with the Reading Fightin Phils, Romero was 7–6 with a 3.80 ERA, with 100 strikeouts in 106.2 innings.[9] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions following the 2019 season.[10] On November 20, 2019, Romero was added to the Phils’ 40–man roster.[11]

Philadelphia Phillies

On August 21, 2020, with the Phillies playing a road game in Atlanta, Romero made his big league debut. He pitched the eighth inning, with the Braves ahead 11–2. Romero struck out all three batters that he faced.[12] Romero finished his rookie season with a 7.59 ERA in 12 appearances.

On May 19, 2021, it was announced that Romero would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2021 season.[13] In 11 games, Romero recorded a 7.00 ERA with 8 strikeouts.

On July 15, 2022, Romero was activated from the injured list to make his return from surgery.[14]

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 30, 2022, Romero was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for infielder Edmundo Sosa.[15] Romero pitched in 15 games for St. Louis down the stretch, recording a 3.77 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 14.1 innings of work.

Romero was optioned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds to begin the 2023 season.[16]

International career

Romero played for the Mexico national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Breen, Matt (September 5, 2020). "Phillies' JoJo Romero reached the majors, but the pandemic kept his parents at home". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ Murray, Chris (September 23, 2013). "Wolf Pack baseball gets commitment from LHP JoJo Romero, who had UCLA offer". rgj.com. Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  3. ↑ Kramer, Daniel (June 2, 2016). "JoJo Romero emerges as JUCO ace before Draft". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. ↑ Potkey, Rhiannon (June 10, 2016). "Oxnard's JoJo Romero drafted by the Phillies in the fourth round". archive.vcstar.com. Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  5. ↑ Bergner Jr., Brian M. (June 11, 2016). "Romero of Yavapai College selected by Phillies in MLB Draft". dcourier.com. Prescott, AZ: The Daily Courier. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  6. ↑ Bergner Jr., Brian M. (June 22, 2016). "Phillies sign Romero, assign him to Class A Williamsport". dcourier.com. Prescott, AZ: The Daily Courier. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  7. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (October 5, 2017). "Phillies Hoskins, Romero named top prospects". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ Gilberto, Gerard (May 10, 2017). "'Claws' Romero twirls eight one-hit innings". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  9. ↑ "JoJo Romero Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ Norris, Josh (August 28, 2019). "2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced". baseballamerica.com. Baseball America. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ Lauber, Scott (November 20, 2019). "Phillies stockpile arms by adding four minor-league pitchers to 40-man roster". inquirer.com. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (August 22, 2020). "Nola has rare stumble in loss to Braves". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Phillies' JoJo Romero to Undergo Tommy John Surgery". May 19, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies Recall Brogdon, Romero from IL". si.com. July 15, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Cardinals, Phillies Swap Edmundo Sosa For JoJo Romero". July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Cardinals' JoJo Romero: Send down to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  17. ↑ Gonzaga, Edward (February 4, 2023). "Who will be the captain of Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?". Diario AS.
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