The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano to a one-year contract, announced Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski this evening.
Romano, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, spent the first six seasons of his major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays (2019-24). Over 231 relief appearances, he has recorded a 2.90 ERA (74 earned runs in 229.2 innings pitched) and successfully converted 105 of 118 save opportunities (88.98%). Romano has faced 953 batters in his career, holding them to a .205/.289/.335 slash line (.624 OPS) with 285 strikeouts (29.9%).
Among the 17 pitchers in the majors with at least 100 save opportunities since 2019, Romano’s 88.98% save percentage ranks second, just behind Josh Hader (187-210, 89.04%). Romano’s 105 saves rank ninth among all pitchers in baseball during this period.
According to Statcast, Romano has averaged 96.8 mph with his four-seam fastball, ranking 18th among pitchers since 2019. He is in the 100th percentile among pitchers with an average extension of 7.5 feet at release. This gives him an impressive perceived velocity of 98.6 mph on his fastball, placing him eighth behind only Edwin Diaz (99.5), Aroldis Chapman (99.5), Ryan Helsley (99.3), Jacob deGrom (99.0), Trevor Megill (99.0), Tyler Glasnow (99.0), and Spencer Strider (98.8).
Among pitchers who have exclusively pitched in relief since 2019, Romano’s 7.7 bWAR ranks fifth, trailing only Raisel Iglesias (9.6), Devin Williams (8.9), Tanner Scott (8.9), and Hader (8.5).
A native of Markham, Ontario, Canada, Romano was selected by the Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma.
Romano will wear No. 68 for the Phillies.
