Due to feeling homesick, Groome opted to return to Barnegat for his senior year.[4] However, theNew Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ruled that Groome was ineligible to pitch for Barnegat in April 2016 because the transfer did not involve a change of address.[5] He regained his eligibility after 30 days, or half of Barnegat's games.[6]
Groome was a potential first overall pick in the2016 MLB Draft,[7][8][9] and worked out for thePhiladelphia Phillies, who had the first pick.[10] Prior to the draft, Groome changed his college commitment fromVanderbilt toChipola College, a junior college in Florida.[11][12] He was selected 12th overall by theBoston Red Sox in the draft,[13] falling in part due to a reportedsigning bonus demand of $4 million and because of his change in college commitment; teams had signability concerns.[12][14] The Red Sox and Groome agreed to a $3.65 million signing bonus.[15]
At the start of the 2018 season, Groome did not play, with what was initially thought to be aflexor strain. On May 9, 2018, the Red Sox announced that Groome would undergoTommy John surgery to repair a tornulnar collateral ligament of the elbow.[18] In April 2019, Groome was projected to return mid-way through the 2019 season;[19] he made his first appearance on August 21, pitching an inning for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox.[20] After another one-inning appearance in the Gulf Coast League, Groome made one appearance with Lowell; overall for the season he pitched four innings, allowing five hits and one run (2.25 ERA).[17] After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Groome was invited to participate in the Red Sox' fall instructional league.[21] Following the 2020 season, Groome was ranked byBaseball America as the Red Sox' number six prospect.[22]
On November 20, 2020, Groome was added to the40-man roster.[23] In May 2021, he was assigned to Greenville, now aHigh-A team.[17] In early September, he was promoted to theDouble-APortland Sea Dogs.[24] Overall for the 2021 season, Groome made 21 starts and compiled a 5–8 record with a 4.81 ERA.[25]
On August 2, 2022, the Red Sox traded Groome to theSan Diego Padres in exchange forEric Hosmer,Max Ferguson, Corey Rosier, and cash considerations.[29][30] The Padres assigned Groome to theEl Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple-APacific Coast League.[31] He made 10 starts for El Paso after the trade, posting a 3–2 record and 3.16 with 44 strikeouts in51+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Groome was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2023 season, and was one of San Diego's final roster cuts after pitching to a 1.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 5 spring appearances.[32] He spent the year with Triple–A El Paso, struggling to a 4–10 record and 8.55 ERA with 137 strikeouts across 30 starts.
Groome was again optioned to El Paso to begin the 2024 season.[33] In 3 starts, he compiled a 3.60 ERA with 5 strikeouts across 5 innings pitched. On June 4, 2024, MLB suspended Groome for one year for violating their gambling policy.[34]
At the time of the MLB draft, Groome threw afour-seam fastball between 92–96 miles per hour (148–154 km/h), achangeup, and acurveball.[7] After recovering from Tommy John surgery, his fastball velocity declined to 90–94 miles per hour (145–151 km/h), but he also developed acut fastball and atwo-seam fastball.[31]
Groome has two older sisters and two younger brothers.[6] As of November 2020[update], Jay Groome was living inFort Myers, Florida.[35] In December 2020, Groome married Amanda Muller, also of Barnegat, New Jersey; the two were expecting their first child in July 2021.[36]
^"Instagram: jaygroome".Instagram. Archived fromthe original on December 24, 2021. RetrievedDecember 12, 2020.To my wife, thank you for everything you do to make me the person I am!
