The Rockies have wrapped up their draft business by agreeing to terms with catcher Drew Romo, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter). He’ll receive a bonus for the precise $2,095,800 slot value of the 35th overall pick.
Romo will bypass a commitment to Louisiana State University to go pro with the Rox. He’s seen as a defensively proficient switch-hitting backstop, which is certainly a nice starting point for a player hoping to maximize his opportunities to reach the majors.
The question remains whether Romo will really ever emerge as a compelling player on offense. Baseball America cites “swing-and-miss concerns” and indicates that the upside is limited. Per BA, Romo “has a good understanding of the strike zone and could provide enough offense with his plate discipline and ambush power.”
Though high school catchers constitute a generally disfavored class of players, Romo’s serious defensive chops were sufficient to push him into the top forty players chosen. That’s at the top of the range at which prospect watchers graded him, but all agreed he was at least a second-round talent.
Related to Tony?
sergio
Sounds like a football name for sure.
I sure hope not. . . I hated listening to him commentate that time he did the rams and saints game. His one liners were painful “and Greg the leg comes on to try for 40”. Smh
I’m not familiar with Romo and I wish him well. It’s just that I don’t have much faith in Briddich.
I enjoy following the Rox, but it sure feels like Briddich is overmatched competing against the likes of Friedman, Hazen, Zaidi and Preller.
As a Rockies fan, Bridich absolutely nailed this draft but is the worst GM in the entire league in all other ways. Definitely overmatched.
Agree….. he is no match for most of them guys. However, how many GMs can really match Friedman? IMO he is the best. Just my opinion though. He puts together a World Series bound product every year just about.
Where is he going to play?
Probably catcher.
A team desperate for pitching… drafting a high school outfielder at number 9 and a high school catcher at 35.
Lol…. you said it
I’m very high on Romo. Since his defence is pretty much already MLB level, development time with Romo can be used on getting his offence up to speed, where he isn’t even that bad.
If that happens, the Rockies may have their first all-star catcher in history. He may even be the best Rockies catcher in history, although that’s not a high bar to clear.