Jay Groome 'fantastic again' in Friday's appearance, and the Padres may consider him for roster spot
Jay Groome might be pitching his way onto the Padres roster.
That is, if there is a spot.
Drew Pomeranz threw to batters again Friday, a progression that would seem to give him a chance to be in the bullpen come March 30. And starter Joe Musgrove stepped up to throwing long toss, as he pushes to defy the odds and return in time to begin the season.
“It’s amazing to see,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said of Musgrove’s progress since fracturing his left big toe on Feb. 27. “Still probably a big longshot. There’s a lot of time left to figure out what we’re going to do.”
Meanwhile, what Groome is doing is at least forcing the Padres to consider him.
The big left-hander on Friday overcame some occasional command issues and the home plate umpire’s inconsistent interpretation of the strike zone to throw four more scoreless innings in a 1-0 Cactus League loss to the Royals.
“I came into this camp just trying to turn some heads and really prove to these guys that I’m ready,” Groome said after throwing 67 pitches and running his scoreless innings total to 10 2/3 innings in fur appearances. “I think I’ve been doing that. I’ve found a really good groove here so far, and I’m just telling myself this is it and really just going out there and keeping my nose on the grindstone and not really worrying too much about results. But it’s always in the back of my head, especially (since) I know this camp is pretty important for me. Just want to … show these guys that I can contribute and hopefully be a part of something special up there.”
The 24-year-old Groome was among a group of a half-dozen pitchers the Padres were eyeing with a special interest entering spring training.
Groome, Brent Honeywell, Reiss Knehr, Adrian Morejón, Julio Teheran and Ryan Weathers were in the running to possibly earn a spot as a long reliever and/or spot starter or to show they could be dependable depth posted in Triple-A.
The group of contenders to be on the roster if Pomeranz and/or Musgrove is not ready is likely down to Groome, Morejón and Teheran.
Teheran, 32, has pitched well and is a nine-year veteran. Morejón, 24, is perhaps the most talented of the bunch and is seen as a member of the rotation in 2024 and beyond.
Groome has an improved change-up that he weaponizes against left-handed batters, a cutter that breaks effectively in on right-handed batters and three other pitches he moved around the zone on Friday.
“He was fantastic again,” Melvin said. “Really efficient, pitching to both sides of the plate. … He continues to go out there and put up zeros and fight for a job. You also look (at how he didn’t) get off to a great start maybe with balls and strikes and then recovers in the middle of it. All those things come into play.”
Groome, acquired in a trade that sent Eric Hosmer, two minor leaguers and a little more than $43 million to cover most of what remained on Hosmer’s contract to the Red Sox, doesn’t just want to make his major league debut sooner than later. He is aware that he was the return for Hosmer.
“I think it really comes down to the trade,” he said. “I mean, I know they gave up a lot for me. I take pride in that and just want to show these guys that I can do it at the highest level and not just be a depth option. I would love to work my way up there and be a part of something special, because it’s coming.”
