Phillies: Five unique bullpen options for 2021

Phillies Prospect Jojo Romero

Similar to that of Adonis Medina, Jojo Romero is one of the Phillies top minor league starters who may fare better as a reliever when it comes to the MLB. Currently the 13th ranked prospect in the Phillies system at 23 years of age, the clock is ticking when it comes to deciding Romero’s future.

Romero was named the Phillies “Minor League Pitcher of the Year” back in 2017 after dazzling at the single-A level. He went 10-3 while recording 128 strikeouts and posting an ERA of 2.16. Romero’s production took a hit when he jumped from A to AA, and then they seriously dropped off during the 2019 season when he spent time in both AA and AAA.

Philadelphia Phillies

Romero utilizes five different pitches, which is one of the main reasons scouts are still relatively high on him at the moment. He throws both a four-seam and a two-seam fastball, he regularly incorporates a slider and a changeup as his primary offspeed pitches, and he tosses in a curveball at times. His control is overall below average, and he tends to rely too much on ground balls as opposed to striking batters out.

Romero is a lefty, which already gives him an extra bit of value when it comes to his future on the Phillies pitching staff. His increased endurance that he’s developed from years of starting could also play a role in his major league success as the MLB transitions into the “three batter minimum” rule.

Romero last pitched in the 2019 Arizona Fall League, and he was actually exclusively used as a relief pitcher. Across eight games and 10.2 innings he posted a 0.84 ERA, showcasing some serious potential when it comes to operating out of the bullpen.