Former Red Sox first-round draft pick to begins rehab stint with FCL Red Sox
Red Sox prospect Mikey Romero has been limited to just 53 professional games since being drafted in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Romero’s first full season was derailed due to lower-back issues that kept him out of action until late June and ultimately ended his season in August. He played just 34 games in 2023, split between three affiliates. The 20-year-old hit .214 with five doubles, no homers, 13 RBI, 14 walks, and two stolen bases while posting a .580 OPS.
The infielder was assigned to the Florida Coast League Red Sox on Tuesday, where he began his rehab assignment, per the team’s transactions log.
Romero played a full game, penciled into the No. 3 spot and played shortstop. He went 0-for-2 while committing one error in the field.
Boston snagged Romero with the No. 34 pick out of Orange Lutheran High in Southern California and signed him to a below-slot $2.3 million bonus.
Romero was considered one of the best high school hitters in the 2022 draft class. The left-handed hitter has the ability to spray the ball gap-to-gap.
Baseball America calls Romero’s swing “clean” and produces “excellent” contact rates, which reportedly was a main reason the Red Sox drafted him.
MLB Pipeline doesn’t consider him to be a future shortstop due to his range and arm. He profiles better as a second baseman.
If Romero can get to full health, he can showcase his talent at the lower levels of the Red Sox system. It’ll be interesting to see how his back injury impacts his swing and if he’ll look like the pure hitter he was just a year ago. Once his rehab is complete, he should report to the Greenville Drive.
