MIAMI — Clint Hurdle had some sources on Enny Romero. The Pirates manager knew former Washington Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux, who had the same job with the Texas Rangers when Hurdle was the Rangers’ hitting coach in 2010. He also had his closer, Felipe Vazquez, who came up with Romero through the Tampa Bay Rays farm system, working on their breaking balls together.
“He’s a nice guy,” Vazquez said. “He’s like me, a little crazy but not too crazy.”
The Pirates claimed Romero, a 27-year-old lefty reliever, off waivers from the Nationals on Saturday. He took the final open spot on the 40-man roster. The Pirates did not make a corresponding move on the active roster because Romero has not yet reported; Vazquez said Romero told him he would join the team at home Monday.
“It’s a big arm, it’s a high-velocity arm,” Hurdle said. “He’s not just a left-left guy, he’s shown the ability to pitch to right-handers, as well. And sometimes it’s spray command. There’s a reason he got DFA’d.”
Romero allowed five hits and three runs in two innings this season before the Nationals designated him for assignment last weekend. He pitched well in 2017: in 53 appearances he struck out 65 batters in 55⅔ innings (10.5 per nine) with a 3.56 ERA.
“I was able to talk to some guys, how he was used, not just looking at the number of games he’s pitched but how he functioned in the bullpen, what kind of teammate he was,” Hurdle said. “Those are questions we ask.”
The most likely corresponding move would be to option right-hander Dovydas Neverauskas, who has allowed 11 hits and eight runs in 6⅔ innings with three walks and two home runs compared to two strikeouts, to Class AAA Indianapolis.
Adding another left-hander gives the Pirates more flexibility. They had Josh Smoker to start the season but sent him to the minors Friday, recalling right-handers Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez from Indianapolis. The only other lefty currently in the bullpen is Vazquez, and with Kevin Siegrist on the minor league suspended list because he did not report to Indianapolis, there are no left-handers (other than Smoker) in Class AAA.
Also hurting the left-handed depth: Nik Turley was suspended before the season because he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, Steven Brault is in the rotation because of Joe Musgrove’s injury, and the Cleveland Indians claimed Jack Leathersich off waivers.
Romero has not pitched since April 3.
“He said he’s been throwing, he said he’s thrown a couple bullpens, he said he’s throwing a bullpen [Saturday],” Hurdle said.
Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.
First Published: April 14, 2018, 7:42 p.m.
Updated: April 14, 2018, 9:37 p.m.
