The Nationals have selected the contract of pitching prospect Seth Romero. Veteran reliever Sean Doolittle was moved to the 10-day injured list with right knee fatigue.
This isn’t quite how the Nats hoped things to shake out early, but the team’s supply of southpaw relievers has now been exhausted. The team placed Sam Freeman on the IL earlier today.
Details of Doolittle’s injury aren’t yet known. The placement surely also reflects his difficulties on the mound. He has made it through three total innings in five appearances, coughing up five earned runs while recording only two strikeouts. Doolittle’s velocity has fallen off a cliff, declining three full ticks on average versus 2019.
When the Nats picked Romero in the first round of the 2017 draft, there were whispers that the team might speed him through the system for a near-term relief role. It took some time, and required a few ups and downs but he’s now headed to the majors to work out of the pen.
Romero has averaged 13.1 K/9 in the minors, but that’s in a minimal sample of 47 1/3 innings. His 2019 campaign was wiped out entirely by Tommy John surgery, though that’s now nearly two years in the rearview mirror.
In the long run, the hope surely remains that Romero will turn into a rotation piece. For now, the Nationals need to address the immediate need and will give him a shot to carve out a place on the pitching staff.
have to wonder if he’s considering opting out now
It’s a contract year for him, why would he opt out ?
because he’s mentioned his concerns about the season previously
Are there any stats that compare injuries in the first three weeks of a normal season to this season? It sure feels like there’s a lot of injuries, especially to pitchers… but I also have a nagging feeling that I say the same thing every year, three weeks in.
I’ve wondered the same. Recently heard someone say The Athletic covered this, but I haven’t checked it out yet. MLBTR, could we get a tracker?
Yeah, I’m being lazy here by asking, but I’m at work and don’t have time to research it myself! (laffing) I plan to see what I can see tonight.
Let us know what you find! I’m curious too
Doolittle will do even less now. Sadly
Weird it took this long
Now that Harris is back and Hudson is pitching well, they really only need Romero to be a moderately reliable arm. Seems like the Nationals might have learned a lesson about getting talent into the bullpen after last year’s start.
Uhh, “Right Knee fatigue” — ?? — Who knows, could be true, the Nationals have certainly gone out of their way to hide injuries in the past.
Has Romero corrected his character deficiencies?
Right knee fatigue. Whatever that means. Makes you wonder what his hobbies are off the field.
Romero had behavior issues in College at Univ of Houston and again in the Minor Leagues, so hopefully he’s matured since then. No doubting his stuff though. It’s plus across the board.
Good for the Nationals to have some balls and promote a kid who has not pitched above A ball in his career. I wish the Red Sox would follow suit and bring up some of their talented, young prospects who haven’t pitched above A+ or AA (like Mata or Groome). Instead, they continue to put out waiver wire fodder every game and watch them get hammered by the opponent. Let’s give the kids a shot like the Nationals are!
The Nationals had no choice to promote Romero. With 2 leftys down they had NO other leftys in their bullpen. None. I take his promotion to be The Nats lack of faith in leftys on the market. The kid got absolutely ROCKED today in his 1st appearance. Tough to deal with the ups and downs of rookies in a season of only 60 games.
trade or FA? i wouldnt exactly expect the FA market to be booming at any position during the season, and youre going to say they have no faith in ANY lefty for trade? seems more likely they need a replacement lefty and didnt want to make an impulse move.
Was referring to free agents.
FA