The Giants announced their list of non-roster invitees to major league camp this afternoon. Lefty Enny Romero was among that group. According to the MLB.com transaction tracker, he signed a minor league deal with San Francisco last month.
Romero, who recently turned 34, returns to affiliated ball after sitting out two seasons. The southpaw last pitched a full season in 2022, when he turned in a 3.36 earned run average across 115 2/3 innings for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. Romero’s only professional experience since then has been winter ball in his native Dominican Republic. While he struggled to a 5.17 ERA during the 2023-24 offseason, he had an excellent showing this winter. Romero pitched to a 1.24 mark over 10 starts.
San Francisco’s evaluators were intrigued enough by Romero’s form to give him a look in camp. The southpaw has pitched in five MLB seasons, though he hasn’t reached the majors since 2018. He was a pure reliever during his early-career work, most of which came with the Rays and Nationals. The 6’3″ hurler has a 5.12 ERA across 146 big league innings. He fanned a league average 23.4% of opponents against a lofty 11.1% walk rate.
Romero has worked as a starter in Japan and in the Dominican Republic, so it’s possible the Giants will keep him stretched out at Triple-A Sacramento. If he gets a major league look, it’d be likelier in low-leverage relief. The Giants only have one lefty reliever on their 40-man roster: Erik Miller. They’re bringing a handful of left-handers to camp on non-roster contracts. Joey Lucchesi, Raymond Burgos, Miguel Del Pozo, Ethan Small and Helcris Olivarez are also among those who’ll be in Spring Training.
What has bro been doing the past two years?
It’s ennyone’s guess!
Arm problems.
No risk signing
I love looking at player statistics and seeing how their major league players end…
And this is often like this- they are released, go to free agency sign a minor-league deal to try to prove that they can get back into the major leagues … and when that doesn’t happen
they try other lower leagues in hopes of a comeback – but nowadays it seldom happens because there’s just so many other layers to choose from around the world
I played various hard ball leagues until I was early for 40s because I just didn’t wanna quit the game I love so much
I totally get where these players are coming
It’s not dumpster diving it’s not a slam MLB
teams are simply all looking for players that can help them that at some point when earlier in their career were good
It’s a win-win
As a giant fan my first thought was Ryan Vogelsong – that was a nice story
Who else can you guys think of that kind of comeback for the Giants?
Yusmeiro Petit’s MLB renaissance was legendary.
I think this might turn out to be a surprisingly useful pitcher for the 2025 season. I like this signing more than a lot of other Giant ST invitees.
Don McMahon. 5 1/2 seasons with the Giants from age 39 up. Great season in 1971 as a pitching coach/reliever! Even three scoreless inning in the playoffs vs. Pirates.
Cmon Jimmy Ray Hart! I’m not gonna tell you. You have to figure it out. Maybe you’re too young. This guy played with you. Then went to Padres. Then A’s then came back to Giants in 78. HOFer with a statue.
The guy who used to pick your bad throws from third Jimmy Ray. SF to SD to OAK and back. Friend to kayakers.
He had the greatest STRETCH of all time.
There was talk of Romero signed my with a CPBL team in Taiwan in December but it obviously must have fallen through.
34 year old coming back from Asia is exactly what the Giants needed to ensure a playoff run.
Enny got his only hit with the Pirates in 2018 and I remember that he was absolutely elated with it,a double.
His OPS that year was 3.000 as that was his only at bat with them.
While he’s previously worked as a starter so he has some ability against RHH. I wonder if they believe his stuff ticks up as a 1+IP middle relief role and/or is another LH bullpen candidate if they want two.