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Ricky Romero
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Ricardo Romero Jr. (born November 6, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Key Information

Prep career

[edit]

After spending three years at Garfield High School, Romero graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles. In his senior year he was named L.A. City Section co-player of the year and Eastern League co-MVP for baseball, going (12–1) with a 0.53 ERA and 162 strikeouts for the Rough Riders.[1]

College career

[edit]

Upon graduation, Romero attended Cal State Fullerton from 2001 to 2005. The lefty starter helped the Titans capture a National Title in the 2004 College World Series, pitching the team into the semifinals past Miami (FL) and winning game one of the World Series against Texas. He was also selected to the All-Tournament team for that season and played for the U.S. National Team pitching to a (3–1) record with a 1.57 ERA. In 2005, he led Fullerton in wins (13) and the Titans returned to the World Series.[2]

Professional career

[edit]

Toronto Blue Jays

[edit]

Minor leagues

[edit]

Romero was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays as the sixth overall pick (and first pitcher selected) in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.[3] After signing with Toronto in June of that year, with a signing bonus of $2.1 million, Romero made his professional debut for the Auburn Doubledays of the Low-A New York–Penn League. He was promoted to the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays after that appearance. Both 2006 and 2007 were short, injury-riddled seasons for the southpaw, with Romero suffering from shoulder and elbow problems. Finally healthy in 2008, Romero struggled with control problems with a career high 55 walks for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He received a late year call up to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs and earned Player of the Week honors as a member of the Chiefs on September 1.[4]

Major leagues

[edit]

2009–2010

[edit]

On March 30, 2009, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston announced that Romero had earned one of the two open rotation spots for the 2009 MLB season. This came after a strong 7-inning spring training outing against the Houston Astros.[5][6]

On April 9, Romero made his Major League debut against the Detroit Tigers, opposite Tigers rookie pitcher Rick Porcello. The game marked the first time in MLB history that two first-round picks faced each other in their respective debuts.[7] Romero earned the win while surrendering two runs on seven hits over six innings in the Blue Jays' 6–2 victory.[8] Romero pitched strongly in his next two starts, getting a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins, and defeating the Oakland Athletics. He had a 2–0 record and a 1.71 ERA in his first three starts, but was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 20 with a strained right oblique muscle after a violent sneeze.[9] The Jays, surprising many observers by holding first place for the month of April despite many injuries to their key pitchers, hoped he would be ready to return to their lineup by mid-May.[10] Romero was called up from Triple A Las Vegas 51's along with Casey Janssen, after a successful rehab assignment in the minor leagues to evaluate his progress.[11] After struggling somewhat upon his return, Romero found an outstanding run of form in late June and early July, defeating the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies (June 26),[12] the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays (July 1),[13] and the perennial powerhouse New York Yankees (July 6)[14] in three successive starts. On July 6, Romero tied the Blue Jays rookie record for consecutive scoreless innings with 24 against the NY Yankees, before giving up a home run to Eric Hinske in the fifth inning.[15] Jays' manager Cito Gaston said Romero was by this time considered the team's #2 starter, behind Roy Halladay.

Romero was rumoured to be one of the leading candidates for the 2009 MLB Rookie of the Year award during the first half of the season. Others included Chicago White Sox infielders Gordon Beckham and Jayson Nix, as well as Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello.

On April 13, 2010, Romero set a new career high with 12 strikeouts while allowing only two runs on one hit over eight innings in a 4–2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. On May 15, Romero pitched his first complete game and shutout while tying a career-high 12 strikeouts in a 6–0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

2011

[edit]

On June 26, 2011, Romero got his first major league hit, a two RBI single to right field, while pitching a complete-game shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals to complete the sweep.[16] The five runs scored by the Jays were a welcome change for Romero, who had received two or fewer runs of support in each of his previous eight starts.[17]

On July 10, 2011, Romero was named as a late reserve to the American League All-Star Team, just two days before the game. He replaced injured Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, who was replacing Seattle Mariners pitcher Félix Hernández, who, because of starting the last game before the All-Star break, was ineligible to play in the game.[18]

Romero was named the AL Player of the Week for the week of August 1–7, 2011.[citation needed] Romero set personal highs for a single season with his second shutout and fourth complete game on August 18 against the Oakland Athletics.[19] On September 6, Romero was named the pitcher of the month for August, after posting a record of 5–0 in 6 starts. He led the American League in ERA (2.05) and opponents batted .160 against him, a major league low for the month.[20]

2012

[edit]

Romero was named the opening day starter for the Blue Jays against the Cleveland Indians on April 5, 2012.[21]

On April 11, 2012, in the fourth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox, Romero recorded his 500th career strikeout against outfielder Darnell McDonald. He made his 100th career start on May 8, 2012 against the Oakland Athletics, receiving a no-decision.

Romero's season started out well, and as of June 22, Romero was 8–1 – albeit with an ERA of 4.34, nearly a run and a half higher than his previous season's ERA of 2.90. The rest of the season, however, was little short of disastrous, as in Romero's last 17 appearances (all starts) he went 1–13 with an ERA of 7.35. No physical reason appeared to exist for Romero's sudden turn in performance, and the Jays kept him in the rotation for the entire season. Overall, Romero finished the 2012 season with a 9–14 record along with an MLB-high 5.77 ERA and 105 walks issued.

Romero later revealed that he pitched through pain in his knees all season because he did not want to hurt the already uncompetitive team by being sidelined.[22]

2013

[edit]

Romero had been the starter for the previous two opening days for the Blue Jays,[23] but in light of his second-half struggles in 2012, on February 5, 2013, manager John Gibbons said Romero would be the Jays' number 5 starter for the 2013 season. Despite Gibbons' statements about Romero's position in the starting rotation, however, on March 26, 2013, the Blue Jays optioned Romero to the Class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays.[24]

Romero claims to have begun the year with pain in his left side which forced him to compensate in his delivery by putting more pressure on his legs, which were already in pain and had been since the previous season.[22] None of this was revealed to Jays management or the public at the time.

Romero spent time in an extended spring training camp, and was recalled from Dunedin on May 3, 2013, after having pitched only one official game in minor league play.[25][26] However, back at the major league level, Romero posted an 0–2 record with a 12.46 ERA in two starts. He was subsequently optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on May 9, 2013.[27][28] Romero was then outrighted from the 40-man roster on June 1, 2013 to make room for Ramon Ortiz.[29]

Romero spent the next several months as a Bison, compiling a 5–8 record with a 5.78 ERA over the course of 22 starts.[30] His contract was selected by the Blue Jays on September 3 after the Bisons season ended, and the major league rosters expanded.[31] He appeared in two games in relief for Toronto in September, giving up 3 runs in three innings. Romero's overall major league record for the 2013 season was 0–2, with an 11.05 ERA in 71⁄3 innings.[32] Though he would try for several years afterward to restart his pitching career, 2013 was his final season in the majors. Romero never again appeared on a big league roster, nor would he ever again register a win at any level of organized baseball.

2014

[edit]

Romero was invited to the Blue Jays spring training camp, where he walked 10 batters over 92⁄3 innings. He was sent to minor league camp on March 19, 2014.[33] In June, he underwent season-ending knee surgery and could require a second surgery on his other knee. Up to the surgery, he had posted an 0–3 record with a 5.50 ERA and 42 walks through 372⁄3 innings pitching for the Buffalo Bisons.[34] Romero had been pitching with torn quadriceps tendons in both legs.[22]

San Francisco Giants

[edit]

Romero began the 2015 season on the disabled list of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He was released by the Blue Jays organization on April 26.[35] On May 9, Romero signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[36] In four starts in the Arizona Rookie league, Romero had a 0–2 record, 5.62 ERA, seven walks, and four strikeouts in eight innings.[32] He elected free agency on November 6.

Romero re-signed a minor league contract with the Giants on November 16, 2015.[37] He once again pitched only eight innings for the entire season, making two starts for the Giants' Triple-A Sacramento affiliate, with no decision in either start. After the 2016 season, the Giants re-signed Romero to a minor league deal.[38] Romero was released by the Giants organization on April 29, 2017, after making four starts with Sacramento, compiling an 0-2 record.[32][39]

Toros de Tijuana

[edit]

On May 30, 2017, Romero signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.[40] He appeared in 12 games for the Toros, all in relief, and posted a 5.40 ERA in 15 innings without recording a win, a loss or a save. In early August, Romero was placed on the Toros reserve list, rendering him inactive as a player, while still keeping his contractual rights tied to the team.

Romero did not play for any team after August 2017. On December 31, 2018, Romero officially announced on Instagram that he would be retiring from professional baseball.[41]

Pitching style

[edit]

Romero threw an 87–92 miles per hour two-seam fastball, a 92–95 miles per hour four-seam fastball, an 82–87 miles per hour changeup, a curveball that ranged from 74–78 miles per hour, and lastly an 84–86 miles per hour slider.[42]

Personal life

[edit]

Romero is of Mexican descent,[43] and has a younger brother, Gabriel, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 47th round of the 2010 amateur draft, as a right-handed pitcher.[44] He also has two sisters.[45] He is married to retired Canadian soccer player Kara Lang,[46] and they have 2 sons and a daughter.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ricky Romero

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ricky Romero (born November 6, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in (MLB) primarily for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2009 to 2013. A left-handed thrower and right-handed batter, he rose to prominence as a , earning an selection in 2011 after posting a 15–11 record with a 2.92 () and 178 strikeouts that season. Over his MLB career, Romero compiled a 51–45 record with a 4.16 and 622 strikeouts in 129 games, mostly starts. Born in , Romero attended , where he helped the Titans win the 2004 as a key reliever before being drafted sixth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2005 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut on April 9, 2009, and quickly established himself in Toronto's rotation, recording 14 wins in 2010 and four complete games in 2011, including two shutouts. However, his performance declined sharply in 2012 due to control issues, leading to a 9–14 record, tying the lead with 14 losses, after which he spent time in the minors and with teams in the Mexican League before leaving the majors. Romero officially retired from on December 31, 2018, at age 34, citing a lack of opportunities amid a youth-driven league and his desire to focus on family, including his three young children. Post-retirement, he returned to Cal State Fullerton to complete his sociology degree, which he began pursuing before his draft but paused for his career; he graduated in spring 2025, 20 years after leaving for the pros. Romero has remained connected to through speaking engagements and fan events, expressing gratitude for his journey from East L.A. to the majors.

Early life and amateur career

Early life and family background

Ricky Romero was born on November 6, 1984, in , to Mexican-American parents Ricardo and Sandra Romero. His family emphasized hard work and resilience, rooted in their immigrant background from , where both parents had faced significant challenges before settling . Romero's father, a truck driver who rose early each day, and his mother, a school bus driver originally from , provided a stable foundation despite financial strains, ensuring the family's basic needs were met while fostering a strong work ethic in their children. From a young age, Romero's father introduced him to through casual games of catch, igniting a passion that led to enrollment in Little League at age four in the local Salazar Park. This early exposure, combined with the family's close-knit support, helped shape his dedication to the sport amid broader athletic interests. Raised in a tough, low-income neighborhood influenced by activity and economic hardship, Romero built that proved essential for enduring the high-stakes environment of . His parents, working long hours in demanding jobs, nonetheless prioritized his pursuits by attending games and encouraging his involvement in other sports like football, demonstrating unwavering commitment despite their own sacrifices.

High school career

Ricky Romero attended High School in for his freshman through junior years before transferring to High School in East for his senior season, from which he graduated in 2002. During his senior year at Roosevelt, Romero emerged as a standout left-handed pitcher, posting a 12-1 record with a 0.53 ERA and 162 strikeouts over the season. One highlight was a five-inning against his former teammates in April 2002, where he struck out 14 batters while walking two under the 10-run rule. His performance earned him recognition as the L.A. City Section Co-Player of the Year and co-MVP of the Eastern League. Romero's high school success drew early scouting attention, culminating in his selection by the Boston Red Sox in the 37th round of the 2002 MLB Draft out of Roosevelt, though he opted not to sign and instead pursued . This exposure highlighted his potential as a promising prospect from the area.

College career

Ricky Romero attended , where he played for the Titans from 2003 to 2005. As a freshman in 2003, he posted a 3-0 record with a 3.21 , recording 46 strikeouts over 56.1 . In his sophomore season of 2004, Romero emerged as a key starter for the Titans, achieving a 14-4 record and a 3.37 across 155 innings, with 126 strikeouts and only 42 walks. He contributed significantly to the team's success, helping Cal State Fullerton win the championship and capture the 2004 national title; Romero was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team for his performances. Romero's junior year in 2005 was his most dominant, as he led the Titans to another Big West Conference title with a 13-5 record, 2.89 ERA, 139 strikeouts, and 34 walks in 134 . For his efforts, he earned Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and was selected as a second-team All-American. Despite the team's regional success, Cal State Fullerton fell short of the , losing in the super regionals. Following the 2005 season, Romero declared for the MLB Draft, forgoing his senior year, and was selected sixth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Professional career

(2005–2008)

Ricky Romero was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the out of , and signed a professional contract on June 16, 2005, for a $2.4 million . In his debut professional season of 2005, Romero began with a brief appearance for the rookie-level Auburn Doubledays of the , where he pitched 2 scoreless innings in one start before earning a quick promotion to the Advanced-A of the . Overall, he posted a 1–0 record with a 3.58 across 9 starts and 32.2 , striking out 24 batters while allowing just 2 home runs, demonstrating early promise as a starter in the Blue Jays' system. Romero's 2006 campaign marked his first full professional season, starting with the , where he excelled with a 2–1 record, 2.47 , and 10 starts, showcasing improved velocity and strikeout ability in the . Mid-season, he was promoted to the Double-A of the Eastern League, facing tougher competition that tested his command, resulting in a 2–7 record and 5.08 over 12 starts; combined across levels, he finished 4–8 with a 3.87 in 22 starts and 125.2 innings, highlighting areas for growth in consistency against advanced hitters. Returning to Double-A in 2007 with the after a single start at (0–0, 3.86 ), Romero encountered ongoing challenges with control, issuing walks at a high rate while posting a 3–6 record and 4.89 in 18 starts for the Fisher Cats. His overall performance that year was 3–6 with a 4.84 in 19 starts and 93 innings, as the Blue Jays emphasized refining his command to reduce free passes and build stamina for extended outings in preparation for higher levels. By 2008, Romero showed significant progress, beginning the year with the (5–5, 4.96 ERA in 21 starts) before a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the , where he thrived with a 3–3 record and 3.37 ERA across 7 starts. Across all levels, he compiled an 8–8 record with a 4.55 ERA in 28 starts and 164.1 innings, logging a career-high workload that solidified his readiness for the major leagues while continuing to focus on enhancing command and endurance as a rotation prospect.

Toronto Blue Jays (2009–2013)

Ricky Romero made his debut on April 9, 2009, starting for the Blue Jays against the Detroit Tigers at , where he pitched six innings and allowed two runs in a no-decision. In his rookie season, Romero established himself as a reliable starter in the Blue Jays' rotation, posting a 13-9 record with a 4.30 over 29 starts and 178 , leading rookies in . He struck out 141 batters while walking 79, contributing to a team that finished 75-87 under manager , and sharing the rotation with veteran ace in Halladay's final season with . Romero solidified his role as a mainstay in the 2010 season, improving to a 14-9 record with a 3.68 across 32 starts and 210 , setting career highs in both categories. He recorded 174 strikeouts and demonstrated better command with 82 walks, helping anchor a Blue Jays pitching staff that supported a 85-77 finish. The following year, , marked Romero's peak performance as he earned his first selection, going 15-11 with a career-best 2.92 in 32 starts and 225 1/3 , the most among Blue Jays pitchers that season though ranking eighth league-wide. He struck out 178 batters and finished 10th in voting, serving as the starter and becoming a fan favorite in for his durability and competitiveness. Romero did not appear in the itself. Romero's performance declined sharply in 2012 amid control problems, finishing 9-14 with a 5.77 in 32 starts and 181 , leading the with 105 walks for a 5.2 BB/9 rate. He managed only 124 strikeouts as the Blue Jays rotation struggled during a 73-89 season. In 2013, ongoing mechanical issues and injuries limited his major league play. After being optioned to Class A on March 26 for delivery adjustments, Romero was recalled on May 3 and made two starts (0-2, 11.05 , 7 1/3 , 5 strikeouts), along with two appearances, before the Blue Jays optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo on May 9. He spent the rest of the year in the minors, was outrighted to Buffalo in October, and was non-tendered after the season, ending his Blue Jays tenure. Over five seasons with , Romero compiled a 51-45 record, 4.16 , and 622 strikeouts in 129 appearances (127 starts) spanning 801 1/3 .

San Francisco Giants (2015–2017)

After being non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays following the 2013 season and spending 2014 in Toronto's minor league system with the Triple-A (0–3 record, 5.50 in nine starts), Romero was released by the Blue Jays organization on April 25, 2015. He then signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on May 9, 2015, and was assigned to their rookie-level Arizona League affiliate, the AZL Giants, where he made four starts from July 12 to July 28, posting a 0–2 record with a 5.63 over 8 innings. Injuries limited his activity throughout the season, and he did not reach the majors. In 2016, Romero re-signed with the Giants on a minor league deal and reported to their Triple-A affiliate, the , of the . He made two starts in April, allowing four earned runs over 8 innings for a 4.50 , before being placed on the disabled list on April 17 due to ongoing health issues. Romero did not pitch again that year and was released by Sacramento on September 6. His limited outings highlighted persistent injury challenges that hampered his comeback efforts in affiliated baseball. Romero signed another minor league contract with the Giants ahead of the 2017 season and began with Sacramento, where he struggled in four starts from to April 27, going 0–2 with a 6.75 in 14⅔ before his release on April 29.

Later career and retirement (2015–2018)

Following his release from the Toronto Blue Jays organization on April 25, 2015, Romero briefly joined the Boston Red Sox's Double-A affiliate, the , but was released the next day without appearing in a game. On May 9, 2015, he signed a contract with the Giants and was assigned to their Rookie-level League team, the AZL Giants, where he made four starts from July 12 to July 28, posting a 0–2 record with a 5.63 over 8 . Injuries limited his activity throughout the season, and he did not return to . In 2016, Romero re-signed with the Giants on a minor league deal and reported to their Triple-A affiliate, the , of the . He made two starts in April, allowing four earned runs over 8 innings for a 4.50 , before being placed on the disabled list on April 17 due to ongoing health issues. Romero did not pitch again that year and was released by Sacramento on September 6. His limited outings highlighted persistent injury challenges that hampered his comeback efforts in affiliated baseball. Romero signed another minor league contract with the Giants ahead of the 2017 season and began with Sacramento, where he struggled in four starts from April 10 to April 27, going 0–2 with a 6.75 ERA in 14⅔ innings before his release on April 29. On May 30, he joined the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League, appearing in 12 relief outings through July 22 and recording a 5.40 ERA over 15 innings without a decision. As a Mexican-American, Romero found the experience culturally enriching, drawing large crowds of up to 17,000 fans at Tijuana's stadium and embracing his heritage in a league known for its passionate support. He was placed on the reserve list on July 28. Entering 2018, Romero expressed determination to return to the majors but saw no further organized activity that year. On December 31, 2018, he announced his retirement via after 13 professional seasons, reflecting on the perseverance required through multiple releases and injuries while prioritizing family and seeking closure on his career. Across these years, Romero's post-Toronto statistics remained minimal—22 appearances, 10 starts, 45⅔ innings, and a 5.71 —underscoring his resilience amid repeated setbacks without a major league recall.

Pitching style

Repertoire

Ricky Romero's pitching arsenal centered on a , which served as his primary pitch throughout his early major league career and reached velocities of 91-94 mph. In his breakout 2011 season, he relied heavily on the , using it for 60.5% of his pitches at an average of 91.6 mph. His go-to was , clocked at 82-85 mph and featuring significant arm-side tumble that made it particularly effective against right-handed batters. Romero developed during his college years at Cal State Fullerton, where it emerged as one of his standout offerings, and it remained a key component of his , accounting for 19.8% usage in 2011. Romero incorporated a cutter and into his mix starting in to improve command, with both pitches typically ranging from 88-91 mph. Following mechanical tweaks after 2012, he adjusted their velocity into the low 90s while increasing their usage during his performance decline. He also threw a at 78-82 mph with a sharp 12-6 break, employing it sparingly at around 10-11% usage to complement his primary fastball-changeup combination. During his 2011 peak, Romero leaned predominantly on the fastball-changeup duo, which generated a 22% overall whiff rate and drove his success with groundballs and strikeouts. As velocity dipped in later years, he elevated his cutter usage to offset the fastball's reduced effectiveness.

Delivery and mechanics

Romero's pitching delivery originated from his time at , where he utilized a low three-quarters arm slot that created a deceptive sidearm-like action, making it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball early in his motion. This style emphasized a quick arm whip through the release point, contributing to his ability to generate ground balls at a career rate of 54.3%. At his 2011 peak, Romero maintained consistent mechanics that supported exceptional durability, allowing him to log a career-high 225 innings pitched while averaging 92.0 mph on his fastball. His repeatable delivery featured efficient hip-shoulder separation and a hidden ball release, which masked the pitch trajectory and limited hard contact. In 2012, Romero experienced a noticeable decline, with his fastball velocity dropping to an average of 91.4 mph and command unraveling as his walk rate surged to 5.22 per nine innings. Romero's command issues were linked to lower body , including throwing across his body and directional problems that caused his arm slot to drop. He worked on squaring his hips to the plate and adjusting foot position for better alignment toward . Following the 2012 season, Romero underwent arthroscopic cleanup surgery on his left elbow to remove scar tissue and received injections for quadriceps tendinitis in both knees. Romero refined his mechanics in extended , making minor adjustments to his delivery for better direction to the plate, including aligning his foot and reducing cross-body action. While he showed partial improvement in the minors, including better command in select outings, he never fully recaptured his prior form.

Personal life

Family and heritage

Ricky Romero is of Mexican-American heritage, born and raised in East to first-generation immigrants from . His father, Ricardo Romero Sr., worked as a , while his mother, Sandra Romero, was a driver; both instilled a strong work ethic and love for in their children from an early age. Romero has often credited his upbringing in the close-knit Latino community of East L.A. for shaping his resilience and identity, emphasizing how his parents' sacrifices provided a solid foundation amid the challenges of inner-city life. Romero's family played a pivotal role in supporting his career, with his parents frequently attending games and offering unwavering encouragement during road trips and high-pressure seasons. His younger brother, Gabriel Romero, followed in his footsteps by pursuing , getting drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 47th round of the 2010 MLB Draft, which highlighted the sibling influence on sports within the family. Despite the demands of travel in , Romero maintained strong , often drawing motivation from his relatives' presence at key moments, such as his mother's visit during a 2011 West Coast road trip. In 2015, Romero married Canadian soccer player , and the couple welcomed their first son in 2016, which became a significant motivational factor during the later stages of his playing career as he balanced professional commitments with new fatherhood. The couple now has three children: two sons and a daughter. Romero's pride in his Mexican roots was evident when he signed with a team in the Mexican League in 2017, viewing the opportunity as a tied to his family's heritage in and a chance to reconnect with his cultural background while pitching abroad. Throughout his career, he embraced his Latino identity, maintaining deep community ties in East L.A. by hosting free camps for local youth to give back to the neighborhood that raised him.

Post-retirement activities

Following his retirement from at the end of 2018, Ricky Romero returned to the area, where he prioritized time with his family and began openly discussing challenges stemming from the pressures of his MLB career. In interviews, he has emphasized how spending time outdoors with loved ones helped rebuild his mental fitness after facing negativity and performance slumps. Romero transitioned into media work, making guest appearances on Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts and serving as an analyst for starting around 2019. He also contributed to broadcasts in the Blue Jays' minor league system. In 2019, he co-launched the Let's Go Ricky Ro! with sports reporter Beto Duran, where episodes feature stories from his playing days, interviews with former teammates, and discussions on and personal life lessons. In 2021, Romero re-enrolled at , his alma mater, to complete his undergraduate education after leaving for the MLB draft in 2005. He earned a in in May 2025, 20 years later, describing the accomplishment as one of his proudest achievements and a model for his family. Romero has engaged in community efforts, including speaking at a fundraising banquet for the Academy of Baseball in , , in March 2023, where he shared career insights with youth players and supporters. As of 2025, he has not pursued coaching roles but continues to connect with the Blue Jays community through media and fan events. In a reflective published by in late 2018 announcing his , Romero wrote about resilience, his East roots, and gratitude toward Blue Jays fans despite career setbacks, themes he has revisited in subsequent interviews.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/ricky-romero-460069
  2. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/30025/ricky-romero
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romerri01.shtml
  4. https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/toronto-blue-jays-ricky-romero-retirement/
  5. https://dailyhive.com/toronto/ex-toronto-blue-jays-romero-graduate-college
  6. https://cooperstownersincanada.com/2023/08/25/romero-grateful-for-love-from-blue-jays-fans/
  7. https://www.mlb.com/news/ricky-romero-blue-jays-cult-hero
  8. https://boyleheightsbeat.com/east-l-a-has-a-permanent-spot-in-pitcher-ricky-romeros-heart/
  9. https://tht.fangraphs.com/ricky-romero-has-a-story-to-tell/
  10. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-apr-22-sp-prepbaseball22-story.html
  11. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-25-la-sp-0426-sondheimer-roosevelt-20100426-story.html
  12. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/draft/baseball-draft.php?yr=2002
  13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=romero001ric
  14. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/college.php?p=romerri01
  15. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ricky_Romero
  16. https://bigwest.org/sports/2022/6/1/base-big-west-baseball-individual-awards.aspx
  17. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/13167-ricky-romero/
  18. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=romerri01
  19. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/48728/ricky-romero/
  20. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/42526/
  21. https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/history/records-stats-awards/all-stars
  22. https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-option-ricky-romero-to-triple-a-after-rough-start/c-47052952
  23. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/bluejays/2013/05/09/toronto-blue-jays-romero-demoted/2147799/
  24. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12868851/san-francisco-giants-sign-left-hander-ricky-romero-minor-league-deal
  25. https://www.milb.com/player/ricky-romero-460069
  26. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12764633/ricky-romero-released-toronto-blue-jays
  27. https://www.vice.com/en/article/ricky-romero-is-determined-to-make-an-improbable-comeback-to-the-majors/
  28. https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/1/3/18165201/toronto-blue-jays-ricky-romero-announces-his-retirement
  29. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/ricky-romero-announces-retirement.html
  30. https://www.brooksbaseball.net/landing.php?player=460069
  31. https://tht.fangraphs.com/fluke-watch-ricky-romero/
  32. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/18492/raising-aces-four-of-a-kind-diagnosing-disappointment/
  33. https://bluejayhunter.com/2009/07/make-ricky-romero-canadian.html
  34. https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ricky-romero/3403/graphs?position=P
  35. https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/28/3272995/ricky-romero-season-analysis-toronto-blue-jays-gifs
  36. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/19233/raising-aces-making-the-grade-part-two/
  37. https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/36515/can-ricky-romero-be-saved
  38. https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-romero-ready-to-put-rough-2012-in-rearview/c-41646772
  39. https://www.mlb.com/news/ricky-romeros-struggles-continue-in-the-minors/c-47315150
  40. https://www.mlb.com/news/ricky-romero-allowed-eight-runs-in-the-first-inning-for-triple-a-buffalo/c-48799860
  41. https://www.mlb.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-ricky-romero-very-thankful-for-his-mother/c-30831242
  42. https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/baseball-and-brotherly-love-the-tough-romero-way/article_7beb7f88-81ab-5b67-8a7b-a452a6f0a1a0.html
  43. https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/up-close-and-personal-life-s-good-for-blue-jay-ricky-romero/article_05c1f91a-d073-52c3-8feb-d7f3bdab8be8.html
  44. https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2015/2/21/8084053/ricky-romero-proposes-kara-lang-says-yes
  45. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1754422/2020/04/18/catching-up-with-ricky-romero/
  46. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/former-major-league-pitcher-ricky-romero-teams-up-with-other-pros-to-host-free-camp/
  47. https://www.sportsnet.ca/video/negativity-former-blue-jays-ricky-romero-j-p-arencibia/
  48. https://www.facebook.com/sportsnet/videos/the-mental-game-time-with-family-helps-romeros-mental-fitness/276709714027492/
  49. https://podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/ricky-romero-mlb-pitcher-blue-jays-analyst-co-host/id1006346709?i=1000559164218
  50. https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2021/1/29/22256115/top-60-all-time-greatest-blue-jays-44-ricky-romero
  51. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-go-ricky-ro-with-beto-duran/id1456272916
  52. https://albertadugoutstories.com/2023/03/09/the-ricky-ro-show/
  53. https://fullertontitans.com/news/2025/7/31/baseball-keeping-his-head-in-the-game.aspx
  54. https://titanmag.fullerton.edu/spring-summer-2025/keeping-his-head-in-the-game/
  55. https://www.instagram.com/rickyro24/?hl=en
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