Just like any MLB contender in September, the Philadelphia Phillies will use the final couple of weeks of the regular season to decide how they want to shape their postseason roster. Among their team full of stars, there's a select number of players who are either on the fringe of making the roster or should be left off entirely, like failed offseason acquisition Jordan Romano.
It would be an understatement to say that Romano's 2025 has been a disappointment for the Phillies, who placed him on the IL with right middle finger inflammation on Aug. 26. It's a season that now seems to be over for Romano, given his latest injury update.
Jordan Romano's return to Phillies in 2025 seems increasingly unlikely after possible nerve issue
After a handful of weeks spent on the IL, Romano was slated to pitch in a bullpen session on Sept. 13. That session wouldn't take place, as Romano is still dealing with a series of injuries, as he experienced finger numbness and neck stiffness. The numbness in Romano's finger is the biggest thing here, as that's what he was shelved with, and it's still not fully healthy after the expected 10-day IL period has ended.
The Phillies believe that there may be a more glaring nerve issue with Romano's injured finger, per Phillies Nation's Ty Daubert, that will cause them to delay his possible return to the mound this season.
Jordan Romano has a stiff neck and numbness in his finger, so he did not face live hitters today, Rob Thomson said.
— Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert) September 13, 2025
Phillies think it’s a nerve issue. They’ll wait until the stiffness subsides, but he’s still going to rehab and try to pitch again this year.
Of course, Phillies fans hope that Romano won't pitch again this season when fully healthy. Even if it were in a meaningless regular season game after they've clinched the division and a top-two seed, there's no reason the Phillies should try to get Romano back on the mound for them in 2025. It's obvious he won't make their projected postseason bullpen and it's honestly a surprise he's still in the organization at all, given how poor his performance has been.
It's ridiculous that Romano has thrown 42 2/3 innings for Philadelphia this season given his horrible 8.23 ERA. He has posted an ERA over 5.00 in every month but one this season, capped off by his 20.77 mark in August. Although Romano wants to pitch for the Phillies again this season, the team will likely just get him rehabilitated back to full health and have him watch their postseason run from the dugout.
Over a three-year stretch with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021-2023, Romano saved 95 games and was named an All-Star twice. He then fell out of Toronto's plans in 2024 after struggling with a 6.59 ERA over 15 games in what should've been a warning sign for the Phillies.
The Phillies' front office hoped that Romano could channel his pre-2024 form with them when they signed him to a one-year, $8.5 million contract last December. That of course hasn't been the case, and now Romano will be looking elsewhere for an MLB job next season.