BLUE JAYS SELECT
RICKY ROMERO
IN FIRST ROUND
OF DRAFT

TORONTO – The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have selected left-handed pitcher RICKY ROMERO (6-1, 195 lb.) with their first round choice, the sixth pick overall, in the 2005 First Year Player Draft.

The 20-year-old native of East Los Angeles, CA, has starred with Cal State Fullerton University for three seasons now. He was recently named as the 2005 Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year in a season in which he has pitched to a 12-5 record with a 2.95 ERA in 17 starts. To date, he has struck out 132 batters against 33 walks in 125.0 innings pitched.

During his three-year career with the Titans, Romero has compiled a 29-9 record in 62 appearances and 45 starts, with a 3.18 ERA. This includes a 2-0 record in last year's College World Series when he led the Titans to a national championship. Romero also logged a 3-1 mark with a 1.57 ERA while pitching last summer with Team USA. The graduate of Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles pitched to a 12-1 record with a 0.53 ERA in his senior year, prompting the Boston Red Sox to draft him in the 37th round of the 2002 draft.

This marks the second consecutive year the Blue Jays have selected a left-handed pitcher with the Club's first choice, after tabbing David Purcey with the 16th pick overall in last year's draft. It's the tenth time the Club has used its first round pick to draft a pitcher.

Special to Canadian Baseball News – 9 June 2005