Mikey Romero talks building a relationship with Red Sox before he was drafted and the role Marcelo Mayer played in the process
Red Sox infield prospect Mikey Romero and top prospect Marcelo Mayer have a connection that goes beyond being in the same organization.
Romero and Mayer grew up together playing baseball in southern California, playing travel ball, and both played high school baseball against one another. Mayer went to Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, and Romero played at Orange Lutheran.
On the recent Pesky Report podcast, Romero talks about how the Red Sox were essentially scouting him and Mayer at the same time and the bonds he built with Boston.
“The area scout who scouted me in high school, JJ. Altobelli, and I were super close; it was just a really good relationship,” said Romero. "He was also the scout for Marcello (Mayer). We just all had a really good relationship and talked to all their guys at the time. Paul Duboni was the scouting director. Me and him had a very good relationship. We would talk a lot. Me and Marcello grew up together playing travel ball. We have the same agent.”
Mayer and Romero are represented by sports agent John Boggs.
While the Red Sox were scouting Mayer, Altobelli was able to check out Romero and build a relationship with the infield prospect, who would later be drafted in the first round the following year.
Boston would work out Romero privately at the University of San Diego in the weeks leading up to the draft.
“We knew that they had liked me,” said Romero. “We knew that the relationship was there just because the year prior, wherever they were scouting Marcello, I was there as well, just a year younger. So whenever they would come watch him, I would get the looks as well and be able to talk to them and kind of build that relationship.”
Romero was selected with the No. 24 overall pick during the 2022 MLB draft. The 20-year-old wasn’t surprised by the Red Sox selecting him either. Based on the relationships built over the previous few years and conversations prior to the draft, Romero knew he was bound for Boston.
“I knew the Sox were taking me before the draft at 24,” Romero said. “It was cool; Perfect Game came, and they did a video on me. It was funny; I kind of had basically full assurance of where I was going before the draft, which was awesome because it took a lot of stress off.
“kind of wasn't stressing too much. I really wasn't looking at social media either, just because I was trying to enjoy the time with my family and just kind of take it all in, knowing that I had to wait 23 picks until my name was going to be announced. It was forever, but it was pretty cool.”
After he was selected, Mayer took to social media and congratulated the newest member of the Red Sox organization.
“Let’s go Mikey!!!! Let’s get to work, brother!!” Mayer posted on X, formerly Twitter, to which Romero responded, “My brother!! LET’S GOOO!”
With Mayer finally in Triple-A but currently on the injured list dealing with a back/glute injury, Romero is carving up pitching for the Greenville Drive.
In 55 games for the Drive, Romero is batting .276 with 10 homers, 20 doubles, four triples, 39 RBI, 16 walks, and one stolen base with an .846 OPS. With the season rapidly winding down, Romero could see a late-season promotion to Double-A Portland, but until then, he is focusing on controlling what he can control.
