Fernando Romero News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/fernando-romero/ Minnesota sports, but different Sat, 02 Sep 2023 22:31:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Fernando Romero News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/fernando-romero/ 32 32 Fernando Romero Back to Rochester as Twins’ Season Spirals https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/fernando-romero-back-to-rochester-as-twins-season-spirals/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/fernando-romero-back-to-rochester-as-twins-season-spirals/#respond Sun, 24 Jun 2018 14:56:28 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=10149

On Saturday, hoping to recover from the series-opening beatdown vs the Texas Rangers on Friday, the Minnesota Twins watched as 2018 FA signing, RHP Jake Odorizzi, take the mound. Unfortunately, the newly signed hurler and his six earned runs over 1.2 innings turned a rough Friday night into a full-on head-pounding hangover on Saturday afternoon.

The 7-year pro’s dumpster fire of a performance was the quickest, non-injury related, exit of his 142 career starts.

Thanks to Odorizzi’s surprisingly short shift, Minnesota’s bullpen was forced to record a taxing, two-dozen outs Saturday. As a result of the over-worked relievers, and in the aftermath of the 9-6 loss, the Twins made themselves a roster move:

While Fernando Romero heads to Rochester, RHP Alan Busenitz will be joining Paul Molitor’s fatigued bullpen.

Busenitz’, whose 35.2 career MLB innings (31.2 innings in 2017, 4.0 innings in 2018) have all come with the Twins, current AAA campaign includes an impressive 1.27 ERA over 17 appearances (28.1 innings). He’s been good  when the Twins have called upon him too. Really good.

As we watch one promising pitcher get another call up, Fernando Romero will experience his first demotion from the MLB back to the minors. He looks like he could use a reset. After his first handful of big league starts saw him produce an ERA of 1.88, the coveted prospect has now allowed 19 runs over his last 22.2 innings pitched, raising his 2018 ERA to 4.38.

In “well, that makes sense” fashion, Romero’s ERA spike directly correlates to an increase in hitters’ ability to get his ball into the outfield:

As if he’s Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator, Fernando Romero “will be back”. The electric 23 year-old’s ultimate return to big league baseball is simply a matter of time. Here’s what Molitor had to say about Romero after the move:

“His starts, while they haven’t been horrific or horrendous or any of those type of things, it just looks like it’s been a little more laborious for him,” Molitor said. “Some of the things that a young pitcher goes through, I think it’s time to reset him. There’s obviously some things maybe that I don’t want to be too transparent about that I think he needs to work on. I’m sure he’ll get back to work.”

For Sunday’s series finale, the Twins will trot out Jose Berrios before Monday’s scheduled off-day. After their one day vacation, Minnesota will be slapped in the face by the start of a nine-game road trip.

According to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, “Adalberto Mejia appears to be the most likely candidate to replace Romero in the rotation.” Per Berardino, the LHP is currently “lined up to start on June 30 after going 3-1 with a 1.38 ERA in his first four June starts for the Red Wings.”

After last season witnessed Mejia post a 4.50 ERA over 21 starts, I’m excited interested to see the freshly turned 25 year-old makes his 2018 MLB debut.

With all due respect to Mejia, when in the hell can I get excited about seeing our real ace?

R-E-L-A-X! D-A-M-N-I-T!

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/fernando-romero-back-to-rochester-as-twins-season-spirals/feed/ 0 Sat, 02 Sep 2023 17:31:53 +0000 Minnesota Twins Despite Injury Purge, is the Twins Season Looking Up? https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/despite-injury-purge-is-the-twins-season-looking-up/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/despite-injury-purge-is-the-twins-season-looking-up/#respond Sun, 06 May 2018 12:57:26 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=9518

When it comes to appearing extremely intoxicated, the last couple weeks of the Twins’ season deserve a gold silver medal.

With that attempt to lighten the mood complete (things might get a little dark here), let’s talk baseball:

After starting off the season 8-5, the Twins played the next 13 games to the tune of a 2-11 record.

As disturbing as that graphic is, Saturday’s victory actually marked the team’s second win in a row and third of their last four. They’ll enter Sunday just a half game back of Ron Gardenhire’s Detroit Tigers for second place in the AL Central. While that accomplishment is certainly nothing to write home about, beggars Minnesotans can’t be choosers.

So, hopefully Minnesota’s very recent on-the-field play, unlike Miguel Sano’s weight goals, are moving back in the right direction. Unfortunately, that’s not the case away from the big league diamond:

Jason Castro’s 10-day DL designation means Mitch Garver will take on the majority of reps at Joe Mauer’s old position. Who’s for the new catcher on the Twins’ roster? Bobby Wilson was acquired via a FA minor-league deal in November of 2017.

Over the course of eight different MLB seasons (324 games), the 35 year-old has a career batting average of .214 (.268 OBP). With all due respect to Wilson, barring some sort of out-of-body experience, I hope he reaches the 330 career contest plateau as part of a different organization.

Unless you’re hosing runners down at second like Yadier Molina, Bobby Boy’s one home run every 47 at-bats coupled with his barely-above .200 batting average isn’t going to cut it:

via GIPHY

Sidebar: Indications are that Castro’s slow start at the plate is attributed to this meniscus issue.

Speaking of not going to cut it, Minnesota’s current team ERA of 5.02 ranks 26th in the majors. For comparison purposes, Ervin Santana’s 2017 ERA closed at an impressive 3.28.

Although the 2x All-Star’s transfer to the 60-Day Disabled List may appear daunting, the headline’s bark significantly outperforms its bite.

The two month hiatus is retroactive to the beginning of the season. Due to that extremely important wrinkle, Santana will be permitted to return from this lingering finger issue on May 28th.

Despite the May eligibility date, according to Paul Molitor, the 35 year-old pitcher’s need for live batting practice sessions prior to his (brief) Minor League assignment, “leaves the first week of June as a more likely landing spot for Santana’s return.”

While that would equate to (basically) another month’s time without the reliable right-hander, a certain call-up last week may ease our pain slightly.

The way I see it, despite all of the Twins’ recent pain (literally and figuratively), things easily could have been much more excruciating. First of all, Cleveland’s recent struggles leave them sitting only one game above .500. In addition to that, it’s not like Minnesota still has one of their starting pitching eggs in Phil Hughes’ basket.

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/despite-injury-purge-is-the-twins-season-looking-up/feed/ 0 Sun, 06 May 2018 07:57:26 +0000 Minnesota Twins Twins’ Top Pitching Prospect Fernando Romero Called Up; Phil Hughes to Bullpen https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-top-pitching-prospect-fernando-romero-called-up-phil-hughes-to-bullpen/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-top-pitching-prospect-fernando-romero-called-up-phil-hughes-to-bullpen/#respond Tue, 01 May 2018 12:07:37 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=9451

Despite my soft spot for Fernando Rodney, if the near future sees him drop another save or two, it’ll be time for the 41 year-old to be given a different bullpen role.

While this piece is based on a Twins’ pitcher named “Fernando,” whose last initial is also “R,” it surprisingly doesn’t surround the veteran reliever. Meaning, Mr. Rodney’s leash as Minnesota’s closer (albeit assumedly short) still exists.

As a result, the sure to be fisticuffs between my brain and heart won’t be occurring today. Phew, that was close.

via GIPHY

Thankfully, this particular table is reserved for a different “Fernando.”

In case you missed the reports, Fernando Romero is slated to make his MLB debut on Wednesday.

The 6’0″ 215 lbs right-hander will be taking over the bullpen-bound Phil Hughes’ spot in the rotation. As implied by this March 4th, 2018 headline from the Pioneer Press, the 23 year-old has an aggressive amount of potential:

When it comes to Minnesota’s up-and-coming talent, outside of SS Royce Lewis, Romero takes a back seat to no one.

The Dominican Republic native, has sat out almost all of the last two years (injury and eventual Tommy John). The anticipation surrounding the young flame thrower actually took off in 2016. His sub 2.00 ERA over sixteen Single-A starts (5 Cedar Rapids, 11 Fort Myers) during that season “shocked observers.”

It’s probably fair to say he shocked some hitters, as well:

Since then, despite ending last year on the DL, he hasn’t skipped a beat. The power throwing pitcher finished his 125-inning 2017 campaign with a 3.53 ERA, 120 strikeouts, and 45 walks (Double-A Chattanooga).

As for this year, Romero has “fared well in his first taste of Triple-A, posting a 2.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 innings.

Please do not share that information with the Toronto Blue Jays or any of their affiliates. Thank you.

You can share this tidbit with them, though: Fernando Romero “has the mound swagger that all the great ones seem to possess.”

To close, let’s hope this shake-up is exactly what the doctor (and fans) ordered. Either way, having Hughes in the rotation was putting way too much stress on the already stressed out relievers.

However it all plays out, Ervin Santana should be back before we know it. On top of that, Lance Lynn should be almost finished with his version of Spring Training:

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-top-pitching-prospect-fernando-romero-called-up-phil-hughes-to-bullpen/feed/ 0 Tue, 01 May 2018 07:15:37 +0000 Minnesota Twins