SF Giants sign former Nationals, Rays pitcher to milb contract

The SF Giants have signed right-handed pitcher Tommy Romero to a minor-league contract, per MLB.com’s official transaction page. Romero had short big-league stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals during the 2022 season but has otherwise been a career minor leaguer. Still only 26, Romero will hope to pitch his way onto the Giants big-league staff next season.

Nationals RHP Tommy Romero throws to the Phillies during the first inning. (2022) Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Romero spent the entire 2023 season with the Nationals Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, New York. In a generally more pitcher-friendly league, Romero struggled mightily as a swingman. He appeared in 36 games (10 starts), recording a 5.44 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 61 walks in 87.2 innings pitched. It was easily the worst statistical campaign of Romero’s career and the first time struggled so mightily with control in the minor leagues.

Drafted in the 15th round by the Seattle Mariners back in 2017 out of Eastern Florida Junior College, Romero made his professional debut prior to his 20th birthday and was immediately effective. Despite lacking any standout stuff, Romero took advantage of his ability to mix and match his pitches well to keep hitters off balance. With a relatively lanky frame, leaving potential room for added velocity down the line, Romero quickly became a sleeper prospect in the Mariners system.

Romero held his own in his first full-season appearance and caught the eye of the Rays, who acquired him as part of a trade involving reliever Alex Colome and outfielder Denard Span. In Tampa Bay, Romero continued to steadily climb the minor-league ladder, posting sub-3.00 ERAs in each of his first five professional season.

Romero reached Triple-A in 2021, posting a 3.18 ERA across 12 starts to finish the season before returning to the level in 2022. He remained effective and even received his first MLB call up. He made three appearances (one start) with the Rays, allowing four earned runs on three hits and five walks with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched. However, he was designated for assignment in August and claimed off waivers by the Nationals.

Romero remained effective at Triple-A to finish the season, but allowed eight runs (six earned) in his lone appearance with the Nationals. Perhaps shaken up by his big-league struggles, Romero seemingly lost his previous pitchability this past season.

Romero relies on a four-seam fastball, slider, split-finger changeup mix. During his brief time in the majors, opposing hitters have had success against all of his offerings, however, none more than his fastball. Romero generates excellent extension on his pitches, but his fastball still only sits in the low-90s, making it an exceptionally hittable pitch. His slider, generally believed to be his most effective offering, showed some promise, generating a 30% whiff-rate, but he still left it over the plate too often.

Tommy Romero will likely enter spring training competing with other young SF Giants arms with some big-league experience. While incumbents already on the 40-man roster, like Sean Hjelle and Tristan Beck, will almost assuredly start the season ahead of him on the depth chart, if he can rekindle his peak form from 2021-2022, it’s not out of the question that he could pitch his way into a big-league bullpen in 2024.