TRENTON, N.J. — JoJo Romero always heard that the leap from the most advanced level of A ball to double A was the biggest one he would make before reaching the majors. But in bracing for it last winter, the Phillies pitching prospect actually psyched himself out.
Romero opened the season at double-A Reading, and his first five starts were unsightly. Opponents batted .312 against him, and when they weren’t ambushing his fastball, they were walking all over him. The 21-year-old lefty walked 11 batters in his first 26 1/3 innings. It was no wonder he went 0-3 with a 7.