The road to Worcester was bumpy for Mikey Romero. But on Friday, three years after being selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the draft, the 21-year-old infielder made his Triple-A debut.
WORCESTER — Mikey Romero had a lot to digest the last 24 hours.
As the Red Sox prospect drove from Portland, Maine to Polar Park Friday morning, less than 16 hours after he’d been promoted from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, Romero reflected on his time within Boston’s organization.
A lot has happened, both on and off the field, over the past three years for the newest member of the WooSox.
“I was thinking about it on the way (down) here, if you would have told me in (2022) ... that I would be at Triple A at 21 years old, like, I would’ve probably been like ‘Get the hell of out of here, like, no way,’” said Romero ahead of Worcester’s 3-2 win over visiting Lehigh Valley in Game 1 of a doubleheader Friday, Aug. 1. “But I’m here and I’m thankful to be here. I’ve worked my tail off and I’m excited.”
Mikey Romero talks about his call up to Triple-A Worcester and his reaction to the promotion. pic.twitter.com/MCeXele4Ax
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 1, 2025
Romero navigates his way to Triple A
After the Boston Red Sox’ selected him out of Orange Lutheran High School (Calif.) in the first round of the 2022 draft, Michael “Mikey” Romero had a bit of a bumpy start to his professional career.
Romero played in 19 games (Rookie and Low-A ball) the same year he was drafted before starting the 2023 season on the injured/development list due to a stress reaction in his lower back. The left-handed hitting infielder then finished the year on the injured list with a stress fracture in his back — and played just a total of 34 games.
“Blessing in disguise,” Romero said. “I learned so much in 2023.”
While Romero navigated his first full year of professional baseball, his father, Mike, was in declining health. On Feb. 14, 2024, Mike Romero passed away following his third bout with cancer.
Between missing time due to injury, and the loss of his dad, Romero encountered a lot as a kid drafted out of high school with high expectations.
“I wouldn’t change anything because I came out of it a better person, a better baseball player,” Romero said. “It’s been up and down, that’s the best way I can describe it. But I feel like these past two years have been good to me in terms of health and performance and I’m just trying to really stick to a good routine and really just take care of myself and do everything I can to stay on the field and ultimately help the team win.”
Last year, Romero worked his way up to Double-A Portland and put himself back into the mix as one of Boston’s top infield prospects. And across 66 games with Portland this year, Romero hit .254 with 8 HR, 40 RBI and 40 runs scored.
The No. 7 ranked prospect in the Red Sox’ organization, according to MLB.com, also split time playing shortstop (20 games) third base (20), second base (9) and designated hitter (17) — while finding a new appreciation for 3B after playing SS for most of his life — before earning a promotion to Triple-A Worcester.
“He’s made a ton of progress,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham told the T&G. “I think playing every day has been very, very important. I don’t want to underestimate that. And when he’s done that, and he’s swung the bat and swung at good pitches, he’s hit the ball hard and he’s played good defense.
“He’s been a really good, all-around player for us.”
Getting his feet wet with Worcester
After Portland Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson told Romero he’d been called up to Worcester following Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, Romero found himself starting at third base and hitting sixth for the WooSox in Game 1 of a doubleheader Friday.
Romero went 0 for 3 in his Triple-A debut, facing longtime Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (who is on a rehab assignment) in his first at-bat before facing another rehabbing big-league pitcher in Joe Ross in his second plate appearance.
Overall, Romero was happy to get his first WooSox game under his belt.
New WooSox infielder Mikey Romero recaps his Triple-A debut following his team’s 3-2 win over Lehigh Valley. pic.twitter.com/lmd36dK9KJ
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 1, 2025
“It was good to get my feet wet, felt like I (put) a couple good swings on the ball, had some good at-bats and we came up with a win, so that was important,” Romero said. “But yeah, it was fun.”
What a whirlwind it has been for Mikey Romero the past 24 hours, and last three years. The rising Red Sox prospect is “excited” to be in Triple A and one “call away” from the big leagues.
So, too, are the Boston Red Sox.
“To see him work through those struggles, on and off the field, and continue to perform, continue to get better in so many ways, it’s been really fun to watch,” Abraham said. “(We) are always a little bit biased when you have that kid who you draft and he kind of makes his way all the way up towards Triple A and eventually the big leagues.
“But I think Mikey’s journey has been unique, for sure, and we’ve all gotten to know him really well,” Abraham added. “To see him continue to improve and push through some of the struggles he’s had has been really awesome.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox promote infield prospect Mikey Romero to Triple-A Worcester
Category: Baseball
