Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano is set to visit Dr. Keith Meister on July 2, manager John Schneider told reporters (including the Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath and Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi). Romano has been on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation for almost a month, and his throwing work has now been halted for a second time due to continued soreness. Some soreness last week led to a pause for a few days, but Romano has now been shut down from throwing entirely after a throwing session yesterday.
While Schneider noted that no structural damage has been found in other examinations of Romano’s elbow to date, it is naturally a little ominous to hear that any pitcher is visiting Dr. Meister. It was just earlier this month that Meister performed a UCL surgery on another prominent Blue Jays pitcher in Alek Manoah, and a similar procedure represents the worst-case scenario for Romano if his recurring elbow problem is due to more than just inflammation. Romano would miss at least the next year of action recovering from an internal brace procedure (one of Meister’s specialties) or the standard Tommy John surgery would likely keep him out of action until Opening Day 2026.
Today’s news is the latest twist in what is increasingly looking like it might be a lost season for Romano, who has a 6.59 ERA over 13 2/3 innings and 15 appearances. These underwhelming numbers came in between both his current IL stint and another season-opening IL stint also due to elbow inflammation, as Romano didn’t pitch in his first game until April 16.
Romano has been Toronto’s closer for the last three seasons, posting a sterling 2.37 ERA over 186 innings while recording 95 saves in 106 chances. While Romano could be homer-prone and his 9.2% walk rate was nothing special, his 30.3% strikeout rate was powered by a strong one-two punch of a fastball/slider combination, helping him receive All-Star nods in both 2022 and 2023.
More will be known after Romano’s consultation on Tuesday, but an extended absence could potentially bring his tenure with the Jays to an end. Romano is under arbitration control through the 2025 season, though if his 2025 campaign is now in jeopardy altogether, the Blue Jays could consider not even tendering him a contract this winter. Perhaps more likely, the Jays might explore a two-year extension with Romano, locking him up for both 2025 and what would hopefully be a fully healthy 2026 season.
Even if the elbow problem proves to be relatively minor, it almost surely means that Romano will still be a Blue Jays beyond the July 30 deadline, as it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be back on a big league mound in a month’s time. A healthy Romano might have been a prime deadline trade chip for a Jays team that looking to be falling out of contention, though obviously having a healthy and effective Romano in 2024 could’ve greatly altered Toronto’s fortunes. With Romano, Yimi Garcia, Erik Swanson, and Tim Mayza all waylaid by injuries and/or ineffectiveness, the Jays’ relief corps has a 4.78 ERA, ranking third-worst in all of baseball.
Uh-oh.
Spaghetti oohs
Velocity dipped even after his return from the IL early in the season. If he needs surgery and over a year to recover so be it.
Uh huh, uh-oh.
Season over likely
Uh oh see ya in 2026 let’s hope you do not have to pay a visit to Dr. ElAttrache
I was only wrong about one thing, he is actually visiting Meister
That only mean one thing
UCL surgery or TJ like you want to call it”
The slowest most excruciating path towards TJ ive ever seen. he shoulda had the surgery months ago
Ya he shoulda probably had it last year
“Shoulda had the surgery months ago”..@Johnny Utah & bigdaddyt…I’m still amazed that these Ivy League team doctors don’t take advantage of all “medical geniuses” in the “Trade Rumors” comments section. What medical “skool” did you attend and would you care to give us your own theory of rehabbing/rehabilitating sore armed pitchers? Everyone’s a medical genius with benefit of hindsight, right guys?
@fan
lollll yea bec team doctors never misdiagnose, & always get it right. talk to devin williams on the brewers. the guy went on social media to say how he sought private treatment in the offseason and “finally saw a real doctor” after brewers completely misidentified his injury last year, which turned out to be a fractured back and the guy hasnt pitched in 9 months. its the same deal with romano – he’s had elbow issues all season long. on the DL, back in the majors, in rehab, in the minors, back on the DL, back in the majors, back on the DL, in a vicious non-sensible circle. romano’s trying to fight thru the pain, and the incompetent jays are letting him do it at the expense of getting surgery to right the injury and have some chance at a fresh start in 2025. instead they are all prolonging the inevitable.
if you have an opinion you’re welcome to share it, if you’re gonna be rude and patronize people then you’ll promptly get muted.
“Promptly get muted”…It’s fairly silly to criticize doctors (with benefit of hindsight no less) when you have ZERO medical expertise or knowledge. And only extremely fragile and soft people “mute” someone for pointing out how silly you sound criticizing doctors when you have NO medical expertise whatsoever.
Corky Romano needs to get in shape.
I think we all know where this is going
If you could buy stock in TJ surgery a guy could retire off the returns of that investment this year alone. To say elbow issues are a huge problem this year would be a massive understatement.
I see every commenter here has examined Romano’s elbow via osmosis with their M.D. degrees from a cereal box.
Just take us out back and shoot us. This year is not going to pan out. Focus on retooling.
From the least injured pitching staff last year to this! No one could see this coming sarcastically!! Tbh it does seem like the Jays pitchers first consultations always come back clean then without ever pitching again, TJ surgery is required…..Manoah and Romano this year, but Ryu was similar as well
Romano throws the Roger Beshens Football Slider that’s what helped elevate his game. Jordan should contact Roger and look into the technique he’s talking to ML pitching coaches about.
Who is Roger Beshens ?
Hopefully it’s just inflammation, and doesn’t need either surgery…