Drew Rom

Drew Rom
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 38
Pitcher
Born: (1999-12-15) December 15, 1999 (age 24)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 21, 2023, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–4
Earned run average8.02
Strikeouts32
Teams

Drew Michael Rom (born December 15, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Baltimore Orioles selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB draft.

Amateur career

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Rom attended Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. In 2018, as a senior, he had a 9–6 win–loss record, a 2.27 earned run average (ERA), and 129 strikeouts for the baseball team and was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball.[1] The Baltimore Orioles selected Rom in the fourth round, with the 115th overall pick, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed for $650,000, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at the University of Michigan.[3][4]

Professional career

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Baltimore Orioles

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After signing, Rom made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles, posting a 1.76 ERA over 30+23 innings.[5] In 2019, he played with the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A South Atlantic League, earning All-Star honors while appearing in 21 games (making 15 starts) and pitching to a 6–3 record, a 2.93 ERA and 122 strikeouts over 95+13 innings.[6][7] He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

Rom began the 2021 season with the Aberdeen IronBirds of the High-A East and was promoted to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Northeast in late July.[9][10] Over 23 games (twenty starts) between the two clubs, Rom went 11–1 with a 3.18 ERA and 120 strikeouts over 107+23 innings.[11] He returned to Bowie to begin the 2022 season.[12] After five starts, he was placed on the injured list, and was activated less than a month later.[13] In mid-August, he was promoted to the Norfolk Tides of the Triple-A International League.[14] Over 26 games (25 starts) between the two teams, he posted an 8–3 record with a 4.43 ERA and 144 strikeouts over 120 innings.[15]

On November 15, 2022, the Orioles selected Rom's contract and added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[16] Rom was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the 2023 season.[17] In six starts for the Tides, Rom registered a 4–1 record and 2.87 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 31+13 innings pitched.

On May 9, 2023, Rom was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[18] Rom did not appear in a game for the Orioles during their series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and was optioned down to Triple-A Norfolk on May 11, becoming a phantom ballplayer.[19]

St. Louis Cardinals

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On August 1, 2023, the Orioles traded Rom, César Prieto, and Zack Showalter to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for pitcher Jack Flaherty.[20] In 8 starts for the Cardinals, he struggled to a 1–4 record and 8.02 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 33+23 innings.

Rom began the 2024 season on the injured list due to a biceps injury.[21] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on April 30, 2024.[22] On May 9, it was announced that Rom had undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Highlands senior Drew Rom Mr. Baseball, Northern Kentucky athletes named all-state in baseball and softball". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Weber, James. "MLB's Baltimore Orioles drafts Highlands senior LHP Drew Rom". The Enquirer.
  3. ^ Boehmker, Terry (June 17, 2018). "Highlands pitcher Drew Rom plans to sign minor league contract with Baltimore Orioles on Monday".
  4. ^ "LINK nky - NKY's News Organization".
  5. ^ https://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2019/03/os-2018-fourth-round-pick-preps-for-his-first-full-season.html
  6. ^ "Highlands graduate continues to rack up honors". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Wagner, James (June 30, 2020). "Minor League Baseball Season is Canceled for the First Time". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "For Orioles Prospect Drew Rom, 'Great to be Back'". June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ RotoWire Staff. "Orioles' Drew Rom: Promoted to Double-A". Cbssports.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  11. ^ "Orioles prospect Drew Rom learning how to pitch in big leagues from 'crafty lefties' still learning themselves". Baltimoresun.com. September 24, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "Orioles Announce Break Camp Roster for Baysox". Milb.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  13. ^ RotoWire Staff. "Orioles' Drew Rom: Lands on injured list". Cbssports.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "Orioles minor league recap 8/22: Drew Rom has a nice debut for Norfolk". August 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "Drew Rom Stats, Fantasy & News".
  16. ^ "Orioles add Grayson Rodriguez, 4 other prospects to 40-man roster for Rule 5 draft protection". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Orioles' Drew Rom: Sent to minors". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Orioles' Drew Rom: Recalled from Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "Orioles' Drew Rom: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Axisa, Mile. "Jack Flaherty trade: Orioles acquire starting pitcher in deadline deal with Cardinals". CBSSports.com.
  21. ^ "Cardinals' Drew Rom: Lands on injured list". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Cardinals Select Kyle Leahy". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "Cardinals' Drew Rom: Undergoes shoulder surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
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