| AB | 40 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .275 |
| OBP | .275 |
| SLG | .325 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Drew Arthur Romo
- Born 08/29/2001 in Fountain Valley, CA
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: S / Throws: R
- School The Woodlands
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Drafted in the CB-A round (35th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2020 (signed for $2,095,800).
View Draft Report
Romo has been regarded as an elite catch-and-throw backstop from essentially the first day he started playing high school baseball. Area scouts were quick to take note of his prowess behind the plate, and some think he’s been the best defensive catcher in the state for four years—and Baylor backstop Shea Langeliers was a top-10 pick in 2019. He’s at the top of a deep prep catching class in 2020, alongside the offensive-oriented Tyler Soderstrom, and teams believe he’s as high a likelihood major leaguer as you’ll find out of one of the riskiest draft profiles. Romo has soft hands, is an excellent blocker and receiver and brings a strong, accurate arm to the table as well. By the way scouts talk about his defensive reputation and ability, he has a chance to be a plus-plus defender with plus arm strength. On top of that, Romo offers solid raw power from both sides of the plate. His swing is a bit more grooved from the left side, where his righthanded swing is rigid with a tick more power. The biggest questions with Romo are how frequently he’s going to hit. He’s shown some swing-and-miss concerns and there’s reason to wonder how well he’ll hit against better pitching. Still, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and could carve out offensive value thanks to that, with some ambush power. The baseline for catcher offense in today’s game is low, and the scouting industry almost unanimously sees Romo as an impact defender at the game’s most premium position. So despite any offensive concerns, the Louisiana State commit has a chance to go in the first round or supplemental first round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 50/High
Track Record: A highly touted prep, Romo was drafted by the Rockies with the 35th overall pick in 2020. He signed for a slot value bonus of $2.1 million and debuted the following spring with Low-A Fresno. The Rockies have moved Romo a level a season. He spent all of 2022 with High-A Spokane before spending a majority of 2023 with Double-A Hartford. After hitting just .208/.254/.312 in the first two months of 2023, Romo caught fire and hit .288/.351/.521 from June 1 onward. The performance earned Romo a late-season promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque. Notably, Romo had two separate three-home run games, occurring on July 28 and Sept. 7. The catcher finished his season in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Romo is a switch-hitter with above-average bat-to-ball skills and a hyper-aggressive approach. The majority of his damage comes as a lefthanded batter, and he hit just .162/.225/.243 from the right side. His lefthanded swing produces better contact quality. Romo doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard but is adept at making his best contact at good angles. He flashed more power in 2023 but still projects as a below-average power hitter. He’s an average runner who has shown solid basestealing instincts. Long touted for his defensive prowess, Romo is a plus-plus defender with a plus throwing arm. He’s comfortable in the crouch and athletic behind the plate. There’s little question about his receiving and blocking. Romo has long been viewed as having a defense-driven profile, but in the second half of 2023 he Romo showed a far more impactful offensive performance.
The Future: Romo is a potential everyday catcher with average production at the plate, driven by his contact hitting.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 70 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Heralded as one of the top defensive catchers in recent memory during his time on the prep circuit, Romo was drafted by the Rockies with the 35th overall pick in 2020. He signed for slot value of $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment. Romo debuted with Low-A Fresno the following year and hit .314/.345/.439 in 79 games. He was assigned to High-A Spokane out of camp in 2022, made 56 starts at catcher and hit .254/.321/.372 in 101 games.
Scouting Report: A switch-hitting high school catcher is a risky demographic, but Romo's game exudes polish and maturity. At the plate, Romo is a contact-over-power hitter with a swing-happy approach. His righthanded swing is more advanced than his lefthanded one, with a majority of Romo's best-struck balls coming from the right side. He generates more consistent contact quality while displaying better plate discipline as a righthanded hitter. Despite the gap in production, his two swings are similar mechanically. Romo's bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he uses a short, compact swing from both sides of the plate geared toward stinging line drives to the gaps. His raw power is below-average and is not a major part of his game. His speed is fringe-average, but he's a capable baserunner with good instincts. Behind the plate, Romo is a standout defender with a plus arm that consistently produces pop times in the range of 1.9 seconds on throws to second base. He's an athletic catcher who is comfortable in the crouch and moves well behind the plate. He's an average framer and earns rave reviews for his advanced baseball IQ and ability to handle a pitching staff.
The Future: Romo is a young, talented defensive catcher with above-average bat-to-ball skills who projects to be an everyday player capable of hitting for a high batting average in his peak seasons.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60 -
Track Record: Romo earned raves as the best defensive high school catcher since Austin Hedges and was drafted 35th overall in 2020 by the Rockies, who signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a commitment to Louisiana State. Romo entered the year known as a defense-first catcher with a questionable bat, but he silenced concerns about his offense with an excellent pro debut at Low-A Fresno. He finished fourth in Low-A West with a .314 average and backed up the hype about his defense to lead the Grizzlies to the league’s best record.
Scouting Report: Romo’s defense behind the plate is borderline elite for his age. He has sound footwork and receiving skills, consistently posts pop times in the 1.9-second range with his above-average, accurate arm and quick release and has an advanced baseball IQ for his age. There’s still room for development in his game-calling, and he also has the talent to take his blocking to an even higher level. Romo is a switch-hitter but is vastly better lefthanded. He hit .351 as a lefty compared to .218 as a righty and may be best served dropping switch-hitting. He has above-average bat speed, stays balanced in his swing and has strong strike zone discipline, allowing him to project as an above-average hitter from the left side. Romo has plenty of bat speed and raw strength, but his contact-first approach will likely limit him to fringe-average power production.
The Future: Romo’s on track to become a Gold Glove-caliber defender and fill the Rockies’ gaping hole at catcher. The club expects him to be their starting catcher in three years.
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TRACK RECORD: Romo's reputation as an elite defensive catcher stretches back to his days as a high school freshman. Questions about his bat became amplified during his abbreviated senior year, but the Rockies still drafted him 35th overall and signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment.
SCOUTING REPORT: Romo is everything a team could want behind the plate. He's mature and shows advanced defensive ability with soft hands, excellent receiving and blocking skills and a plus, accurate arm. He loves to catch and doesn't want to take a day off. The switch-hitter has long faced offensive questions and took a step backward during his brief senior season with a slow, uphill swing that concerned many evaluators. But Romo impressed in a small sample at instructional league, showing a compact stroke with average raw power from both sides of the plate and a good grasp of the strike zone. The average major league catcher hit .229/.310/.385 in 2020 and Romo has a chance to attain that, especially with help from hitter-friendly Coors Field.
THE FUTURE: The track record of defense-first high school catchers is terrible, but the Rockies think Romo can buck the trend. His advanced defensive skills will buy time for his offense to develop.
Draft Prospects
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Romo has been regarded as an elite catch-and-throw backstop from essentially the day he started playing high school baseball. Area scouts were quick to note his prowess behind the plate, and some think he’s been the best defensive catcher in Texas for four years—and Baylor backstop Shea Langeliers was a top-10 pick in 2019. Romo is at the top of a deep prep catching class in 2020, along with the offensively-oriented Tyler Soderstrom, and teams believe he is a likely major leaguer despite high school catcher being one of the riskiest draft profiles. Romo has soft hands, is an excellent blocker and receiver and has a strong, accurate arm. He has a chance to be a plus-plus defender with plus arm strength, the type of catcher who wins Gold Glove awards. On top of that, the switch-hitting Romo offers solid raw power from both sides of the plate. His swing is a bit more grooved from the left side, while his righthanded swing is rigid with a tick more power. The biggest question with Romo is how frequently he is going to make contact. He has shown some swing-and-miss concerns and there’s reason to wonder how well he’ll hit better pitching. Still, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and could provide enough offense with his plate discipline and ambush power. The baseline for catcher offense is low and scouts almost unanimously see Romo as an impact defender at the game’s most premium position. Despite any offensive concerns, the Louisiana State commit has a chance to go in the first or supplemental first round.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Romo lived up to his reputation as an elite defensive catcher in his pro debut. He showed soft hands as a receiver, impressed with his game-calling and was exceptionally quick on his footwork and transfers behind the plate. He threw out 35% of basestealers and shut down running games with his above-average, accurate arm. Managers overwhelmingly voted him the league’s best defensive catcher. Romo’s offensive production was more of a surprise. He finished fourth in the league with a .314 average and even stole 23 bases. The switch-hitter showed a sharp eye for the strike zone, had above-average bat speed and rarely missed pitches in the zone. He hit significantly better lefthanded but showed the ability to make contact from both sides. “He was awesome,” Stockton manager Rico Brogna said. “Offense, defense, just a quiet, reliable performer. And the more you watch him the more you realize he’s not just reliable, he’s really good.” Romo’s power is just fringy despite his strong, muscular build. His defensive acumen and contact skills nonetheless make him a potential everyday catcher.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Heralded as one of the top defensive catchers in recent memory during his time on the prep circuit, Romo was drafted by the Rockies with the 35th overall pick in 2020. He signed for slot value of $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment. Romo debuted with Low-A Fresno the following year and hit .314/.345/.439 in 79 games. He was assigned to High-A Spokane out of camp in 2022, made 56 starts at catcher and hit .254/.321/.372 in 101 games.
Scouting Report: A switch-hitting high school catcher is a risky demographic, but Romo's game exudes polish and maturity. At the plate, Romo is a contact-over-power hitter with a swing-happy approach. His righthanded swing is more advanced than his lefthanded one, with a majority of Romo's best-struck balls coming from the right side. He generates more consistent contact quality while displaying better plate discipline as a righthanded hitter. Despite the gap in production, his two swings are similar mechanically. Romo's bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he uses a short, compact swing from both sides of the plate geared toward stinging line drives to the gaps. His raw power is below-average and is not a major part of his game. His speed is fringe-average, but he's a capable baserunner with good instincts. Behind the plate, Romo is a standout defender with a plus arm that consistently produces pop times in the range of 1.9 seconds on throws to second base. He's an athletic catcher who is comfortable in the crouch and moves well behind the plate. He's an average framer and earns rave reviews for his advanced baseball IQ and ability to handle a pitching staff.
The Future: Romo is a young, talented defensive catcher with above-average bat-to-ball skills who projects to be an everyday player capable of hitting for a high batting average in his peak seasons.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Heralded as one of the top defensive catchers in recent memory during his time on the prep circuit, Romo was drafted by the Rockies with the 35th overall pick in 2020. He signed for slot value of $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment. Romo debuted with Low-A Fresno the following year and hit .314/.345/.439 in 79 games. He was assigned to High-A Spokane out of camp in 2022, made 56 starts at catcher and hit .254/.321/.372 in 101 games.
Scouting Report: A switch-hitting high school catcher is a risky demographic, but Romo's game exudes polish and maturity. At the plate, Romo is a contact-over-power hitter with a swing-happy approach. His righthanded swing is more advanced than his lefthanded one, with a majority of Romo's best-struck balls coming from the right side. He generates more consistent contact quality while displaying better plate discipline as a righthanded hitter. Despite the gap in production, his two swings are similar mechanically. Romo's bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he uses a short, compact swing from both sides of the plate geared toward stinging line drives to the gaps. His raw power is below-average and is not a major part of his game. His speed is fringe-average, but he's a capable baserunner with good instincts. Behind the plate, Romo is a standout defender with a plus arm that consistently produces pop times in the range of 1.9 seconds on throws to second base. He's an athletic catcher who is comfortable in the crouch and moves well behind the plate. He's an average framer and earns rave reviews for his advanced baseball IQ and ability to handle a pitching staff.
The Future: Romo is a young, talented defensive catcher with above-average bat-to-ball skills who projects to be an everyday player capable of hitting for a high batting average in his peak seasons.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60 -
BA Grade: 55/High
Track Record: Romo earned raves as the best defensive high school catcher since Austin Hedges and was drafted 35th overall in 2020 by the Rockies, who signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a commitment to Louisiana State. Romo entered the year known as a defense-first catcher with a questionable bat, but he silenced concerns about his offense with an excellent pro debut at Low-A Fresno. He finished fourth in Low-A West with a .314 average and backed up the hype about his defense to lead the Grizzlies to the league's best record.
Scouting Report: Romo's defense behind the plate is borderline elite for his age. He has sound footwork and receiving skills, consistently posts pop times in the 1.9-second range with his above-average, accurate arm and quick release and has an advanced baseball IQ for his age. There's still room for development in his game-calling, and he also has the talent to take his blocking to an even higher level. Romo is a switch-hitter but is vastly better lefthanded. He hit .351 as a lefty compared to .218 as a righty and may be best served dropping switch-hitting. He has above-average bat speed, stays balanced in his swing and has strong strike zone discipline, allowing him to project as an above-average hitter from the left side. Romo has plenty of bat speed and raw strength, but his contact-first approach will likely limit him to fringe-average power production.
The Future: Romo's on track to become a Gold Glove-caliber defender and fill the Rockies' gaping hole at catcher. The club expects him to be their starting catcher in three years.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60. -
Track Record: Romo earned raves as the best defensive high school catcher since Austin Hedges and was drafted 35th overall in 2020 by the Rockies, who signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a commitment to Louisiana State. Romo entered the year known as a defense-first catcher with a questionable bat, but he silenced concerns about his offense with an excellent pro debut at Low-A Fresno. He finished fourth in Low-A West with a .314 average and backed up the hype about his defense to lead the Grizzlies to the league’s best record.
Scouting Report: Romo’s defense behind the plate is borderline elite for his age. He has sound footwork and receiving skills, consistently posts pop times in the 1.9-second range with his above-average, accurate arm and quick release and has an advanced baseball IQ for his age. There’s still room for development in his game-calling, and he also has the talent to take his blocking to an even higher level. Romo is a switch-hitter but is vastly better lefthanded. He hit .351 as a lefty compared to .218 as a righty and may be best served dropping switch-hitting. He has above-average bat speed, stays balanced in his swing and has strong strike zone discipline, allowing him to project as an above-average hitter from the left side. Romo has plenty of bat speed and raw strength, but his contact-first approach will likely limit him to fringe-average power production.
The Future: Romo’s on track to become a Gold Glove-caliber defender and fill the Rockies’ gaping hole at catcher. The club expects him to be their starting catcher in three years.
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Romo lived up to his reputation as an elite defensive catcher in his pro debut. He showed soft hands as a receiver, impressed with his game-calling and was exceptionally quick on his footwork and transfers behind the plate. He threw out 35% of basestealers and shut down running games with his above-average, accurate arm. Managers overwhelmingly voted him the league’s best defensive catcher. Romo’s offensive production was more of a surprise. He finished fourth in the league with a .314 average and even stole 23 bases. The switch-hitter showed a sharp eye for the strike zone, had above-average bat speed and rarely missed pitches in the zone. He hit significantly better lefthanded but showed the ability to make contact from both sides. “He was awesome,” Stockton manager Rico Brogna said. “Offense, defense, just a quiet, reliable performer. And the more you watch him the more you realize he’s not just reliable, he’s really good.” Romo’s power is just fringy despite his strong, muscular build. His defensive acumen and contact skills nonetheless make him a potential everyday catcher. -
TRACK RECORD: Romo's reputation as an elite defensive catcher stretches back to his days as a high school freshman. Questions about his bat became amplified during his abbreviated senior year, but the Rockies still drafted him 35th overall and signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment.
SCOUTING REPORT: Romo is everything a team could want behind the plate. He's mature and shows advanced defensive ability with soft hands, excellent receiving and blocking skills and a plus, accurate arm. He loves to catch and doesn't want to take a day off. The switch-hitter has long faced offensive questions and took a step backward during his brief senior season with a slow, uphill swing that concerned many evaluators. But Romo impressed in a small sample at instructional league, showing a compact stroke with average raw power from both sides of the plate and a good grasp of the strike zone. The average major league catcher hit .229/.310/.385 in 2020 and Romo has a chance to attain that, especially with help from hitter-friendly Coors Field.
THE FUTURE: The track record of defense-first high school catchers is terrible, but the Rockies think Romo can buck the trend. His advanced defensive skills will buy time for his offense to develop. -
TRACK RECORD: Romo's reputation as an elite defensive catcher stretches back to his days as a high school freshman. Questions about his bat became amplified during his abbreviated senior year, but the Rockies still drafted him 35th overall and signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment.
SCOUTING REPORT: Romo is everything a team could want behind the plate. He's mature and shows advanced defensive ability with soft hands, excellent receiving and blocking skills and a plus, accurate arm. He loves to catch and doesn't want to take a day off. The switch-hitter has long faced offensive questions and took a step backward during his brief senior season with a slow, uphill swing that concerned many evaluators. But Romo impressed in a small sample at instructional league, showing a compact stroke with average raw power from both sides of the plate and a good grasp of the strike zone. The average major league catcher hit .229/.310/.385 in 2020 and Romo has a chance to attain that, especially with help from hitter-friendly Coors Field.
THE FUTURE: The track record of defense-first high school catchers is terrible, but the Rockies think Romo can buck the trend. His advanced defensive skills will buy time for his offense to develop. -
TRACK RECORD: Romo's reputation as an elite defensive catcher stretches back to his days as a high school freshman. Questions about his bat became amplified during his abbreviated senior year, but the Rockies still drafted him 35th overall and signed him for $2,095,800 to forgo a Louisiana State commitment.
SCOUTING REPORT: Romo is everything a team could want behind the plate. He's mature and shows advanced defensive ability with soft hands, excellent receiving and blocking skills and a plus, accurate arm. He loves to catch and doesn't want to take a day off. The switch-hitter has long faced offensive questions and took a step backward during his brief senior season with a slow, uphill swing that concerned many evaluators. But Romo impressed in a small sample at instructional league, showing a compact stroke with average raw power from both sides of the plate and a good grasp of the strike zone. The average major league catcher hit .229/.310/.385 in 2020 and Romo has a chance to attain that, especially with help from hitter-friendly Coors Field.
THE FUTURE: The track record of defense-first high school catchers is terrible, but the Rockies think Romo can buck the trend. His advanced defensive skills will buy time for his offense to develop. -
Romo has been regarded as an elite catch-and-throw backstop from essentially the day he started playing high school baseball. Area scouts were quick to note his prowess behind the plate, and some think he’s been the best defensive catcher in Texas for four years—and Baylor backstop Shea Langeliers was a top-10 pick in 2019. Romo is at the top of a deep prep catching class in 2020, along with the offensively-oriented Tyler Soderstrom, and teams believe he is a likely major leaguer despite high school catcher being one of the riskiest draft profiles. Romo has soft hands, is an excellent blocker and receiver and has a strong, accurate arm. He has a chance to be a plus-plus defender with plus arm strength, the type of catcher who wins Gold Glove awards. On top of that, the switch-hitting Romo offers solid raw power from both sides of the plate. His swing is a bit more grooved from the left side, while his righthanded swing is rigid with a tick more power. The biggest question with Romo is how frequently he is going to make contact. He has shown some swing-and-miss concerns and there’s reason to wonder how well he’ll hit better pitching. Still, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and could provide enough offense with his plate discipline and ambush power. The baseline for catcher offense is low and scouts almost unanimously see Romo as an impact defender at the game’s most premium position. Despite any offensive concerns, the Louisiana State commit has a chance to go in the first or supplemental first round. -
Romo has been regarded as an elite catch-and-throw backstop from essentially the day he started playing high school baseball. Area scouts were quick to note his prowess behind the plate, and some think he’s been the best defensive catcher in Texas for four years—and Baylor backstop Shea Langeliers was a top-10 pick in 2019. Romo is at the top of a deep prep catching class in 2020, along with the offensively-oriented Tyler Soderstrom, and teams believe he is a likely major leaguer despite high school catcher being one of the riskiest draft profiles. Romo has soft hands, is an excellent blocker and receiver and has a strong, accurate arm. He has a chance to be a plus-plus defender with plus arm strength, the type of catcher who wins Gold Glove awards. On top of that, the switch-hitting Romo offers solid raw power from both sides of the plate. His swing is a bit more grooved from the left side, while his righthanded swing is rigid with a tick more power. The biggest question with Romo is how frequently he is going to make contact. He has shown some swing-and-miss concerns and there’s reason to wonder how well he’ll hit better pitching. Still, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and could provide enough offense with his plate discipline and ambush power. The baseline for catcher offense is low and scouts almost unanimously see Romo as an impact defender at the game’s most premium position. Despite any offensive concerns, the Louisiana State commit has a chance to go in the first or supplemental first round.
Career Transactions
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C Drew Romo assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Spokane Indians.
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C Drew Romo roster status changed by Colorado Rockies.
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Colorado Rockies invited non-roster C Drew Romo to spring training.
