New reliever JoJo Romero on the comeback trail after emergency appendectomy
· Yahoo Sports
Being traded at the deadline can be a lot to process for a player.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
Having it happen while trying to recover from an emergency appendectomy?
Let's just say there are easier ways to transition.
But JoJo Romero, acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers along with right-hander Dustin May from the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 3, is doing the best he can while checking the boxes in the recovery process.
"Definitely not something I expected," the left-hander said on Wednesday, Aug. 5. "Especially dealing with the whole appendix thing. Super happy to be here. Anytime you get to go to a contender and someone that's leading the division I think it's an awesome opportunity. Definitely excited. A little bummed leaving those guys – a lot of that core, we came up together and they're a great group of guys.
"But everybody was welcoming here. The troublesome part is learning all the names, but that'll come as we get acclimated here."
Romero was in the midst of another solid season with the Cardinals, posting a 3.35 ERA, WHIP of 1.30 and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings over 44 appearances when he was awakened early on the morning of July 15, a couple days prior to the start of the unofficial second half of the season.
"It felt like one of my kids kicked me in the stomach," said Romero. "All Wednesday I was just out of commission. Couldn't get out of bed. The times I was able to get out of bed it was just trying to pace back and forth to see if it would go away, because that was my designated workout day."
Romero's condition improved some over the course of the rest of that Wednesday. He tried doing some light physical activity the following day but still didn't feel right, so he contacted the St. Louis medical staff and was told to head to the hospital, where he underwent a CT scan.
"I was waiting around, not really sure," he said. "I drove myself there and didn't really have anything with me and then about 30 minutes after the scan they said they were clearing an OR to do emergency surgery. After that I was just like, 'OK, I guess that's where we're at.'
"That was a tough couple days, especially over the break, but it was nice being home and having family help me out through that process."
While the surgery was laparoscopic, Romero is being listed by the Brewers as returning to game action sometime in mid- to late August with the 29-year-old is hoping for the shorter end the recovery timetable.
"Getting back on a throwing progression now," he said. "Arm feels great, which is great. Now, it's just getting everything synced up and back to a normal feel. I think we're progressing really well.
"It's how the body recovers. This is something new for me. If it's arms, legs, other parts of the body, I understand how to manage it and work through it. But this, it's just understanding how the body recovers and giving it time and for everything to sync up the right way."
With the Brewers, Romero will be seeking to integrate himself into a bullpen that already has a left-handers in Aaron Ashby and DL Hall as well as a fellow trade deadline acquisition in right-hander Antonio Senzatela.
"I think a little big here and I think of the Dodgers, the Phillies and their left-handed hitters," said pitching coach Jim Henderson. "I've seen what he's done to our left-handed hitters and it makes (his acquisition) pressy exciting. It takes some work off Ash and just helps shorten the game for everybody.
"It's somebody that can get ground balls and get whiffs – all really good things."
Romero is a veteran of seven major-league seasons and 241 appearances after breaking in with the Phillies in 2020 and has posted no worse than a 3.68 ERA in any of his last four campaigns with the Cardinals.
"I'm hoping to help out any way I can," Romero said. "Just the brief conversations with Murph and everybody here was, 'Just be yourself.' I'm excited to get out there. Not uncharted territory working in any part of the game, facing anybody in the lineup – I've done it in St. Louis the last 3-4 years.
"Just try to get out there and see how I fit in."
Romero was asked how it feels to now suit up for an NL Central rival after pitching against Milwaukee so frequently. And in case you're wondering, he posted a 4.58 ERA in 20 appearances versus the Brewers.
"That's definitely weird," said Romero. "Being here, facing (Milwaukee) however many times I have, it's definitely different. Glad to be on this side. I know this was a frustrating team to play against because they play a great brand of baseball. Very clean, high energy and just seems like a great group overall.
"Excited to be on this side."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New reliever JoJo Romero on the comeback trail after emergency appendectomy