Philly Leader

PHILADELPHIA -- Jordan Romano, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, addressed a struggle with his pitching delivery that had been affecting his performance on the mound. Romano joined the Phillies with a one-year, $8.5 million contract in December, expected to return to form after elbow surgery last year. However, his initial games this season showed an elevated ERA of 15.75 during his first five appearances.

Romano cited his exaggerated leg lift as a contributing factor. "It was getting too out of control," Romano explained. With fluctuating fastball speeds between 91.3 mph and 97.8 mph, the inconsistencies raised concerns, particularly as the Phillies counted on Romano in high-pressure, late-game scenarios. His role was crucial following the exits of pitchers Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez.

Romano recently made a mechanical adjustment by reducing his leg lift, aiming for more control. "I feel like my delivery now is similar to 2021-22," Romano noted, describing it as cleaner, better balanced, and smoother than before.

The adjustment appears promising. Romano's last three outings were marked by a smaller leg lift, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings and maintaining an average fastball speed of 95.4 mph. Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham remarked on the changes, emphasizing the need for a delivery aimed toward the plate and noting Romano's more controlled approach.

Positive about the modification, Romano expressed confidence moving forward. "It just feels more comfortable, more clean," he said, adding that he plans to make further improvements as needed to achieve consistency.