The Los Angeles Dodgers have paraded one reliever after another to the mound in each of their six Cactus League games entering play on Friday, and it will continue throughout the spring. However, on Thursday, Sergio Romo fulfilled a childhood dream.
The 33-year-old left the San Francisco Giants organization via free agency after nine seasons. In signing a one-year deal with the Dodgers, Romo joined the team he grew up cheering for, and the preferred choice of his family.
Romo’s father was in attendance at Camelback Ranch to watch his son’s first game with the Dodgers. All the right-handed reliever did was strike out the side in the fourth inning, but it was merely an afterthought for Romo, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“I was beyond excited,” said Romo. “I wouldn’t call it jitters, just a childhood dream, be in the big leagues with this jersey and my dad was here to see me do it for the first time. Thankfully, it went well, I was able to throw some quality pitches. My arm felt fine and it was fun to feel that adrenaline again and the strikeouts were just a bonus.”
Romo, who at one time served as the Giants’ closer and won three World Series with the clubs, figures to be among the options Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will turn to as a setup man to Kenley Jansen.
Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt recently pointed to Romo’s experience and ability to succeed with a slider that opponents know is coming, as reasons he’s a valued addition to the club.
Romo can earn a $125,000 bonus by appearing in 50 games this season, and additional $125,000 by reaching 60 games. A flexor strain near his right elbow limited Romo to 40 appearances and a career-low 30.2 innings last season. He finished with a 2.64 ERA, 3.80 FIP and 1.08 WHIP.
The Brawley, Calif. native appeared in at least 50 games for the Giants in six of nine seasons. From 2010-15, Romo made a minimum of 64 appearances, and set a career high with 70 games pitched in 2015.
