Jordan Romano turns 32 today.
Jordan played six seasons with the Jays—well, three of those seasons were part seasons. Born in Markham, Ontario, he is one of thirteen Canadian-born pitchers to play for the Jays.
Jordan was the Jays’ 10th-round draft pick in 2014. He moved up the Jays’ minor league system, working as a starter and not exactly burning it up. In 2018, he made 25 starts for New Hampshire, with a 5.24 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 137.1 innings.
After the season, the Jays didn’t add Romano to the 40-man roster, leaving him available in the Rule 5 draft, and the White Sox grabbed him. They flipped him over to the Rangers, but the Rangers decided he wasn’t worth keeping on the roster for the season and he was returned to the Jays.
Jordan got into a few games with Toronto in 2019. He had a 7.63 in 17 games, 15.1 innings. On the plus side, he had a 28.0% strikeout percentage.
In 2020 he was called up to the majors in late July and pitched in 15 games for the Jays. He picked up his first save on August 21st. Three days later he had his second save. And a few days after that he went on the IL with a ‘numb finger’ and missed the rest of the season.
2021 was the first time he made the team out of spring training. And he became the Jays’ /loser, picking up 23 saves. He had a 2.14 ERA in 62 games. Batters hit .181/.266/.310 against him.
2022 was just as good, 2.11 ERA with 36 saves, 6 blown saves, batters hitting .190/.268/.263. It was more of the same in 2023, 36 saves, with just 4 blown saves and a 2.90 ERA.
2024 wasn’t nearly as good. He was limited to 15 games and missed time with an ‘impingement’ in his right elbow. Jordan had just 8 saves.
After the season, the Jays non-tendered Romano, making him a free agent. As a Blue Jay, he pitched in 231 games, with a 2.90 ERA and 105 saves (third on the Jays’ all-time list).
Romano signed with the Phillies for one year and $8.5 million. He’s having a rough start to his time with the Phillies. In 9 games, he has a 15.26 ERA with 1 save (and 1 blown). Maybe the Jays knew something. It was a surprise when they didn’t make an offer.
Jordan is fourth in saves by Canadian pitchers. He needs 20 to pass John Hiller for third and then another 19 to pass John Axford. He needs 82 to pass Eric Gagne first, but he must return to form to get there.
Happy Birthday, Jordan.
Kevin Brown turns 53 today.
Brown was a journeyman catcher. He spent most of his time in the minors, playing a few games as a backup catcher in seven seasons. He played 85 games (not all that bad for a 56th-round draft pick), 54 with the Jays in 1998 and 1999. As a Jay, he hit .277/.328/.420, which makes you wonder why he didn’t get more playing time. But the Jays had Darren Fletcher, Mike Stanley (as well as Benito Santiago).
Happy Birthday, Kevin.
Also having birthdays:
- Zack Godley pitched in 138 MLB games, 6 of them with the Jays in 2019. After making 57 starts in 2017 and 2018, I expected more from Godley.
- Aquilino López pitched in 90 games with the Jays, 72 of them as a rookie in 2003 with a 3.42 ERA and 14 saves (sharing time as closer with Cliff Politte). 2004 didn’t go as well; he had 18 appearances and a 6.00 ERA. After that, he played for the Rockies, Phillies, and Tigers. He had 159 relief appearances over 5 seasons, with a 3.78 ERA.