| Seth Romero | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Romero with theWashington Nationals in 2020 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-04-19)April 19, 1996 (age 28) West Columbia, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 13, 2020, for the Washington Nationals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2020 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 13.50 |
| Strikeouts | 5 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Seth Daniel Romero (born April 19, 1996) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He played for theWashington Nationals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) during the 2020 season. He playedcollege baseball for theUniversity of HoustonCougars and was drafted by the Nationals in the first round of the2017 MLB draft.
Romero attendedColumbia High School inWest Columbia, Texas. As a senior, he had a 1.35earned run average (ERA) with 131strikeouts over 62 innings. He was not drafted coming out of high school and attended theUniversity of Houston where he playedcollege baseball for theCougars.
As a freshman at Houston in 2015, Romero appeared in 22 games and made eight starts. He had a 7–4 record with a 1.94 ERA, 92 strikeouts and sevensaves. Prior to his sophomore season in 2016, he was suspended indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the team",[1] described in media reports as poor physical conditioning.[2] He returned from the suspension after missing two starts, crediting his weight loss to the work of Houston strength and conditioning coach Ryan Deatrick,[3] and appeared in 15 games with 13 starts.[4] He finished 6–4 with a 2.29 ERA and 113 strikeouts.[5]
As a junior in April 2017, Romero was suspended by the team for a second time,[6] reportedly after failing a drug test, missing curfew, and being photographed in uniform holding a bong.[7] At the time of the suspension, he was 3–3 with a 3.03 ERA and was leading the nation with 76 strikeouts.[8][9] He was re-instated in May.[10] However, Romero played just two games after being reinstated before he was dismissed from the team.[11][7]The Houston Chronicle reported Romero had been involved in a fight with a teammate, precipitating his final dismissal from the team after a series of previous disciplinary incidents.[11]
TheWashington Nationals selected Romero with 25th overall choice in the2017 MLB Draft.[2] He signed with the team on July 7, reportedly accepting an over-slot $2.8 million signing bonus.[12] While the Nationals' scouting director said he believed Romero's "stuff" could immediately be effective inMajor League Baseball, the team's general manager,Mike Rizzo, said he did not expect Romero to make his major league debut in the2017 season.[13] Romero was assigned to theGCL Nationals, and after one scoreless appearance, was promoted to theAuburn Doubledays where he posted a 5.40 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 20 innings to finish the season.[14]
Ranked as the fifth-best Nationals prospect before the2018 season, Romero was placed on the Nationals' early camp roster for spring training that year. However, he was ordered to leave camp on March 5 for reportedly violating team policy.[15] On June 6, he was reinstated and assigned to theHagerstown Suns of the Single–ASouth Atlantic League.[16] However, Romero made just seven starts and saw his season end early as he underwentTommy John surgery at the end of August 2018.[17]
Romero did not play in the 2019 season. On June 28, 2020, the Nationals announced he would be a non-roster member of their 60-man "player pool" for thecoronavirus-shortened2020 season.[18] After placing left-handed relieverSean Doolittle on the injured list on August 13, 2020, the Nationals selected Romero's contract and promoted him to the major league roster for a game against theNew York Mets.[19] Romero appeared in just three games at the major league level, pitching to a 13.50 ERA out of the Nationals' bullpen, before being placed on the injured list with a broken right hand suffered in an off-field accident; the Nationals said Romero had fallen on the stairs.[20] Romero bounced around the Nationals' minor league system in 2021, pitching 35⅔ innings across four levels without making it back to the major leagues.
In January 2022, he was arrested fordriving while intoxicated inSweeny, Texas.[21] Romero was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 7, 2022, with a left calf strain.[22] He began a rehab assignment on August 24 with the rookie–levelFlorida Complex League Nationals.[23] He was activated from the injured list on August 27 and optioned to the Double–AHarrisburg Senators.[24] Romero was released by the Nationals on November 14, 2022, after he was again arrested in Sweeny for driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance.[25]
On May 7, 2024, Romero signed with theCleburne Railroaders of theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.[26] He made 2 appearances out of the bullpen, registering a 20.25 ERA with 7 strikeouts over 4 innings. On May 15, Romero was released by the Railroaders.[26]
Romero throws left-handed, with afastball that sits at about 93 miles per hour (150 km/h). He also throws aslider regarded by scouts as "above-average", as well as achangeup. In college, he was known as a strikeout pitcher with solid command of his pitches.[27] After drafting Romero, theWashington Nationals said publicly they planned to develop him as astarting pitcher rather than pressing him into a relief role.[28]