Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero celebrates after striking out Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber with the bases loaded to get out of the seventh inning during a game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
PITTSBURGH — Another baseball lifetime ago, Cardinals left-handed bullpen pillar JoJo Romero was a starting pitcher making his way through the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
The transition to becoming one of the most-used relievers for the Cardinals has come relatively quickly, and Romero admits he’s still learning to navigate life in a bullpen role. He said he’s benefited from the presence of more experienced relievers Andrew Kittredge and closer Ryan Helsley with him in the bullpen.
Kittredge entered Tuesday night’s series opener in Pittsburgh having made 39 appearances this season, while Helsley and Romero had each made 38 appearances. All three rank among the top 10 in the National League in the category.
“I’m just kind of watching how they go about their business, taking a few things from them and seeing if that helps me,” Romero said. “Or if I have any questions about why they do this on this day or something they do after throwing back-to-back (days) or whatever, I think using their experience and trying to apply it to what I do has been a big, useful tool.”
Kittredge and Helsley have both been selected as All-Stars in the past. They’ve each had multiple seasons in the big leagues as relievers.
Romero first made the transition to a reliever in 2020 while at the Phillies’ alternate training site. Even then, he wasn’t necessarily a one-inning reliever. He pitched more than an inning in four of his first 12 appearances in the majors in 2020.
Prior to 2020, Romero had been exclusively a starter in the minors. In 2021, he pitched in relief in the majors (11 games) prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in May 2021. He returned in the summer of 2022.
His first fully healthy, full-length season as a reliever came last year. After he pitched for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, he made 27 appearances in the majors and 17 with Triple-A Memphis.
Through the first 83 games of this season, Romero has pitched 38 times. He entered Tuesday night with an MLB-best 25 holds.
“I think the big thing so far has been knowing when to take the step back in the weight room and focus more on mobility to address certain needs or whatever the case may be,” Romero said. “I think it’s understanding that the body is going to take a toll out there on the field and understanding that I don’t need to go super-heavy in the weight room or doing a lot of stuff. Maybe sometimes it’s just going in there and moving around and just doing maintenance.”
Learning how to keep himself available and healthy over the grind of the season is an ongoing process for Romero, who said he also leans on the training and strength and conditioning staffs often as part of the process.
With each added day of experience, he gains more understanding of the adjustments he needs to make to his routine and his preparation.
“I think it’s more like a day-to-day basis where there’s going to be some core things that I do on a daily basis,” Romero said. “Some days, it might be I don’t need to do this today. Instead, I’m going to do a little bit more in the weight room with some stretching or some mobility. It’s just kind of addressing needs on a day-to-day basis.”
Marmol believes in GormanSecond baseman Nolan Gorman entered this week still leading the team with 16 home runs, but the left-handed hitting slugger has slumped badly of late before hitting a grand slam Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Gorman, who also hit a team-high 27 home runs last season, had gone 2 for his past 29 at-bats. Since June 5, he’d gone just 7 for 84 (an .083 batting average) with 37 strikeouts, six walks, two home runs and six RBIs in 24 games (22 starts).
“There’s some stuff mechanically that he’s working through — with his lower half, with his load, with his path — and just making sure that there’s a rhythm to that and that allows him to recognize pitches the way he is accustomed to,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said prior to the game.
“It’s something that he was out there early today working on, and our hope is that he just starts taking steps in the right direction. Him, (hitting coach) Turner (Ward), (assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen), (game planning coach) Packy (Elkins) and that group are working hard at getting him on track.”
Prior to the slump that started in early June, Gorman had a stretch of 20 games (18 starts) where he slashed .343/.429/.836 with 29 strikeouts, 10 walks, 10 home runs and 19 RBIs.
Asked if walks would be an indicator of Gorman making strides in the right direction as far as recognizing pitches, Marmol said, “Walks, doubles, I’m not really seeking the home run here. Getting him to feel good about staying on the ball and being a hitter is equally as important as anything, so simplifying it. I believe in this guy, man. I really do believe Gorman will get out of this here soon and help us in a very, very meaningful way down the second half.”
Nootbaar getting closer
Outfielder Lars Nootbaar was set to continue his minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield (Missouri) on Tuesday. He’s currently on the injured list with an oblique strain.
He’d played in three games with Springfield on his assignment entering Tuesday and was scheduled to play nine innings in the field for Springfield on Tuesday night.
Giants claim left-hander Ingram
The San Francisco Giants claimed left-handed pitcher Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Cardinals. The Giants assigned Ingram to their Double-A affiliate.
The Cardinals designated Ingram for assignment on June 30. In 14 appearances for Triple-A Memphis this season, Ingram posted a 3.93 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and 12 walks in 18 1/3 innings.
Since December 2023, Ingram has been claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Los Angeles Angles, claimed off waivers by the New York Mets from the Tigers, by the Texas Rangers from the Mets, by the Cardinals from the Rangers and now by the Giants.
