Jordan Romano still plays video games with old Toronto Blue Jays teammates
For most of his life, former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jordan Romano didn’t know any home but the GTA.
Born in Markham and drafted by the Blue Jays back in 2014, Romano had pretty much been a hometown kid until signing with the Philadelphia Phillies this past offseason on a one-year deal worth US$8.5 million.
Outside of two seasons in college and a few in the minors, Romano’s spent many more years than not around the Rogers Centre, whether as a player or a fan.
Returning this week as a member of the Phillies for the first time, Romano opened up about his early-season struggles in his new environment. He’s now down to a 7.36 earned run average — still a gaudy statline for a pitcher, but much better than the 15.26 ERA he was rocking after his first nine appearances, including getting rocked for six earned runs in just 0.2 innings on April 19.
“I felt like it did take a little adjusting for me,” said Romano, per Sportsnet’s David Singh. “I think just more so wanting to do a little bit too much and be a little too good right off the bat to prove [myself] and show everyone how good you are.”
“Romie got frustrated with me because I had never lost, and I maybe had taken a little bit of his money,” said Jays pitcher Erik Swanson, per Singh. “I told him that he needs to be patient. He needs to learn how to be patient because the day will come where he’ll have the opportunity to take on the king again.”
With the Phillies rocking a 37-23 record and well on their way to a fourth consecutive playoff appearance, maybe Romano will have more than video games to brag about to his old teammates come this fall.
- You might also like:
- Toronto Blue Jays' Rogers Centre gets a 'Jeopardy!' shoutout