Blue Jays to call up Canadian rookie Jordan Romano
In the midst of a road trip in Baltimore, the Blue Jays are about to get an injection of Canadian content.
The club is calling up right-handed Markham Ont., product Jordan Romano as Ken Giles his the IR with elbow inflammation.
ROSTER MOVES: We've selected the contract of RHP Jordan Romano to our Major League roster. He will wear number 68.
Additionally, we've placed RHP Ken Giles on the 10-day IL (right elbow inflammation) and transferred RHP Clay Buchholz to the 60-day IL. pic.twitter.com/zs8DzyEjmK— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 12, 2019
Romano should be able to provide some help in the bullpen. The 26-year-old features a fastball-slider combo and can dial it up as high as 97 or 98 in short stints. His overall numbers at Triple-A this season are on the grim side but in his last eight outings he’s pitched 10.1 innings of shutout ball and held opposing batters to a .152/.200/.182 line with 15 strikeouts.
The Texas Rangers selected Romano in the Rule V Draft in the offseason, but ultimately returned him to Toronto. After three rough starts in his first four outings the righty was converted to full-time relief for the first time since his 2014 season in Rookie Ball.
Romano is unlikely to be a major difference maker for the Blue Jays, but considering the club’s bullpen has a 5.15 ERA with a brutal 5.61 FIP in the last 30 days, he’d be hard pressed to be a downgrade.
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