Boston Red Sox prospect Mikey Romero has not had the smoothest road to get where he is. Since being the first-round selection of the Red Sox in 2022, Romero has had to deal with injuries, struggles, and a loaded system, leaving fans asking where he fits in.
The 2024 season did a lot to erase the questions and all the issues of the past. Finally healthy, Romero put together a breakout season that included 16 home runs and a promotion to Double-A.
Big things are expected from Romero in 2025 as he is once again viewed as a legitimate piece in the system. He responded with a phenomenal 2-for-4 performance on Opening Day for the Portland Sea Dogs. It included a double, a home run, two walks, and three RBI.
We had a chat with Romero to see how he's feeling early in the 2025 slate.
Top Red Sox prospect Mikey Romero talks 2025, poker, and more
Q: What were your offseason goals? Do you feel like you accomplished them?
"Yeah, the goal was to get stronger and take time down. I think the offseason, in terms of getting stronger, was good for me. I put on a few pounds of muscle and feel strong. Every aspect of my game, I feel, has improved because I've gotten stronger. It was good. And a good time to relax, too."
Q: On Opening Day, you went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two walks. How did that first game feel for you?
"It was good. I felt like I was seeing the ball really well. There were a couple of plays on defense that I should've made, but it is what it is. That's baseball. I was glad that we got a dub, especially because we were down early.
"We got a couple of good at-bats from Rosie right here, Corey Rosier. A lot of good team ABs and good walks. It was good. I was seeing the ball well and was glad I could produce."
Q: You had a breakout year last year and have risen up the rankings. Fans are talking about you more. One thing I've noticed is Marcelo Mayer's in Triple-A. You're in Double-A. Obviously, you guys were friends growing up. Have you thought about the potential of playing with him at all this year?
"Yeah, that would be sick. We've talked about it, obviously. We work out together. That would be pretty cool. Looking forward to that opportunity if that can happen. But we're both excited, and it's going to be a good year for both of us."
Q: Do you have any statistical goals for 2025?
"I think a big goal for me this year is having my strikeout-to-walk ratio closer to one. Not necessarily losing my aggressiveness, but making sure I swing at pitches I know I can do damage with. I had two walks on Opening Day. I don't think I had two walks in a game last year.
"Just learning how to balance that with not losing your aggressiveness but also with making sure that you're swinging at the right pitches."
Q: I talked to Christopher Troye earlier. He said that you orchestrated a poker night. How did that come about? Is that something you plan on doing weekly?
"Maybe not weekly because all those guys take my money [laughs]. Maybe. It's a good team bonding thing. Had a couple of guys over, had some pizza, playing poker. It was a good time.
"Hopefully, when we get back to Portland, maybe we'll have some sort of team dinner. It's a good group, and everyone gets along well. We're excited to play with each other and have each other's backs throughout the whole year."
Q: Who won that first poker game?
"Who came out with the most? I think it was Ferguson, Max Ferguson. It might've been him or [David] Sandlin.
"Blaze [Jordan] came out with the third most, but he is the worst poker game I've ever seen in my life. Like that dude does not know how to play poker, he just got lucky. He was looking at his phone to look at his hands on Safari. It was like, bro. Obviously, you have something. Every time you look at your phone, you have something. No bluffs from him."
Q: What are the clubhouse vibes like?
"It's good. We got the music going. Everyone's rooting for each other. We want everyone to do good. Everyone's trying to put their best foot forward and do what they can to help the team win.
"The vibes are high right now, and we're looking to keep on rolling with it."
Q: Have you guys been able to watch any of the big league or Triple-A games this year?
"Yeah, for sure. I know, at least myself, I try to watch as many of the big league games and Triple-A games because, obviously, I know a lot of guys on both squads. I try and watch as many as I can as long as the games aren't contradictingour games.
"It's been fun to watch. KC (Kristian Campbell) is in the big leagues, and Marcelo [Mayer] and Roman [Anthony] are in Triple-A.
Q: I was watching batting practice earlier. You got robbed of a home run. Who robbed you of that home run?
"Bro. Alex Hoppe."
Q: You got robbed by a pitcher? That's rough.
"[laughs] Yeah, hey, they're good. They're good. It's all good. The next swing, I hit one three rows up."
Q: Now you need to take live BP off him and hit one off him.
"I don't know, he throws like 100. I don't know if I want that in April in Portland."