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Miguel Romero could finally get his chance with Oakland A’s

By David Hill

Sep 12, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Miguel Romero (45) walks in the dugout before the game against the Texas Rangers at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Miguel Romero (45) walks in the dugout before the game against the Texas Rangers at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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It has been a long, steady journey for Miguel Romero since he signed with the Oakland A’s. An international free agent out of Cuba, he earned a $300,000 signing bonus to join the organization. Since then, Romero has spent time at virtually every level, climbing up the ladder until he found himself in Triple-A to begin the 2019 season.

And that is where he has stayed. Romero has not been able to get any further along, failing to crack the major league roster thus far. He had a strong initial showing in 2019 before struggling last year, leaving him with an aggregate 5.13 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP in his 147.1 innings, striking out 135 batters with 70 walks.

Oakland A’s could finally give Miguel Romero a look

Those numbers are also skewed by the lively ball that had been used in Triple-A last season. It may not be fair to project his future simply based on his regression in 2021, especially coming out of a year where the pandemic canceled the minor league season.

Based on his pure stuff, Romero has a chance to be a viable option in the bullpen. His fastball sits in the upper 90s and has strong armside run. It is a true swing and miss offering, especially when he is able to elevate it with two strikes. That fastball is paired with an above average slider that can occasionally get a bit slurvy. It still has plenty of movement, with Romero able to put the offering on the back foot of lefty hitters. While his command is spotty and he can be predictable at times, he profiles as a solid power reliever.

It is entirely possible that he gets a chance to show what he can do at the major league level in 2022. The A’s are going to need to rebuild their bullpen and will look to do so as inexpensively as possible. With Romero’s ability to reach the upper 90s with his fastball and excellent slider, it would not be a surprise if he emerges as a key part of the A’s relief corps in the coming year.

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The Oakland A’s are going to need to find options for their bullpen in the coming year. Miguel Romero could finally get a look.