Romeo Finds There Is A Lot To Learn In Professional Baseball

Josiah Romeo RHP / 3B / Mayfield, ON / 2024

CALEDON, Ontario - With three games under his belt pitching rookie ball in Arizona for the Oakland A’s organization, Josiah Romeo has learned a lot.

“It’s definitely different,” related the sixth-round pick in the July Major League Baseball Draft. “There were a lot more nerves my first start. There are lots of good hitters, it was a matter of getting a feel with how excited I was.”

As the 166th selection in the draft, the Mayfield Secondary School graduate said there were “a lot of emotions” when he was chosen.

“It was a super exciting moment,” the top-rated 2024 in Ontario said. “Playing pro baseball is a dream come true.”

Prior to being taken, Romeo had other teams in mind.

“I was thinking the Jays or the Rangers, that’s who most heavily talked to me,” Romeo noted. “But the more I got into it, I knew anything could happen. Oakland saw me throw some pens and saw me in the Draft League but we didn’t talk much before the draft.”

Where he eventually was drafted fit the expectations.

“I had an idea,” Romeo explained. “I told myself in the top three to six rounds and it happened. It was cool to see how it all went down and see some friends get drafted.”

Signing or going to college, where he was a Florida State commit as a two-way player, was admittedly not a difficult decision.

“For me, I had my mind all set going into it,” Romeo said. “I knew I wanted to go pro.”

There was conversation with FSU at the time.

“The day before the draft Florida State called and asked if I was going to sign,” Romeo noted. “He said there’s a good chance you’ll get drafted and I said I’m going to sign. After I was drafted I got a text from them saying congrats.”

Romeo signed his pro contract for $550,000, above the $385,500 slot for where he was drafted.

“It’s around what I wanted,” Romeo related. “I put in the work for that and I’m super happy.”

That feeling has continued as a professional baseball player.

“I traveled here alone,” noted Romeo, who arrived on July 23. “I knew pro ball was super independent. You have to grow up a little. There was an adjustment the first few weeks, but I’m used to it now.”

The daily routine consists of a meeting followed by on-field throwing at 9 a.m. and work with trainers. Conditioning takes place after throwing, with some players lifting.

“I’m getting used to the heat and how fast-paced it is,” the 21st-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in North America said.

It is a fun time according to the 6-3 195-pound righty.

“I’m more excited to wake up now,” Romeo related. “I’m able to wake up, watch video from the day before and see trainers. I’m working on my spin, a lot of those things.

“There’s a lot to learn from the coaches and players. Mostly it’s an overall feel, being with players that want the same thing.”

The goals are simple according to the 18-year-old.

“I want to pitch in The Bigs for a long time and I’m trying to learn how to get there,” Romeo said. “There are lots of resources here I can use that I've never had before that can help me get there. It’s more than I expected to be honest. All the data, and not just for pitchers, there’s a lot of information to take in.”

For a young pitcher like Romeo, moving up the ladder quickly is the hope.

“The big thing is throwing strikes with all of my pitches,” concluded Romeo. “That’s what it will take to go up the ranks.”