Jay Groome

Jay Groome
San Diego Padres – No. 55
Pitcher
Born: (1998-08-23) August 23, 1998 (age 26)
Barnegat Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left

Jason Joseph Groome (born August 23, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization. He attended Barnegat High School in Barnegat Township, New Jersey, and was considered a top prospect in the 2016 MLB draft, where he was the 12th overall selection by the Boston Red Sox, who traded him to the Padres in 2022.

High school career

Groome began high school at Barnegat High School in Barnegat Township, New Jersey. He made the school's varsity baseball team as a freshman.[1] As a sophomore, had a 6–2 win–loss record and 0.57 earned run average (ERA) in 61+1⁄3 innings pitched for the school's baseball team. He transferred to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before his junior year, and committed to attend Vanderbilt University on a college baseball scholarship.[2] Groome pitched to a 5–0 record and a 1.22 ERA with 81 strikeouts and nine walks in 43 innings as a junior.[3]

Due to feeling homesick, Groome opted to return to Barnegat for his senior year.[4] However, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ruled that Groome was ineligible to pitch for Barnegat in April 2016 because the transfer did not involve a change of address.[5] He regained his eligibility after 30 days, or half of Barnegat's games.[6]

Professional career

Boston Red Sox

Groome was a potential first overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft,[7][8][9] and worked out for the Philadelphia Phillies, who had the first pick.[10] Prior to the draft, Groome changed his college commitment from Vanderbilt to Chipola College, a junior college in Florida.[11][12] He was selected 12th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the draft,[13] falling in part due to a reported signing bonus demand of $4 million and because of his change in college commitment; teams had signability concerns.[12][14] The Red Sox and Groome agreed to a $3.65 million signing bonus.[15]

In 2016, Groome made two starts for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox before being promoted to the Lowell Spinners of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League.[16] He posted a combined 2.70 ERA in three games for the Red Sox and Spinners. He spent 2017 with both Lowell and the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League, going 3–9 with a 5.69 ERA in 14 games between both teams.[17]

At the start of the 2018 season, Groome did not play, with what was initially thought to be a flexor strain. On May 9, 2018, the Red Sox announced that Groome would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow.[18] In April 2019, Groome was projected to return mid-way through the 2019 season;[19] he made his first appearance on August 21, pitching an inning for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox.[20] After another one-inning appearance in the Gulf Coast League, Groome made one appearance with Lowell; overall for the season he pitched four innings, allowing five hits and one run (2.25 ERA).[17] After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Groome was invited to participate in the Red Sox' fall instructional league.[21] Following the 2020 season, Groome was ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox' number six prospect.[22]

On November 20, 2020, Groome was added to the 40-man roster.[23] In May 2021, he was assigned to Greenville, now a High-A team.[17] In early September, he was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.[24] Overall for the 2021 season, Groome made 21 starts and compiled a 5–8 record with a 4.81 ERA.[25]

Groome returned to Portland to start the 2022 season.[26][27] The Red Sox promoted him to the Worcester Red Sox of the Triple-A International League on July 14.[28]

San Diego Padres

On August 2, 2022, the Red Sox traded Groome to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Eric Hosmer, Max Ferguson, Corey Rosier, and cash considerations.[29][30] The Padres assigned Groome to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.[31] He made 10 starts for El Paso after the trade, posting a 3–2 record and 3.16 with 44 strikeouts in 51+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Groome was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2023 season, and was one of San Diego's final roster cuts after pitching to a 1.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 5 spring appearances.[32] He spent the year with Triple–A El Paso, struggling to a 4–10 record and 8.55 ERA with 137 strikeouts across 30 starts.

Groome was again optioned to El Paso to begin the 2024 season.[33] In 3 starts, he compiled a 3.60 ERA with 5 strikeouts across 5 innings pitched. On June 4, 2024, MLB suspended Groome for one year for violating their gambling policy.[34]

Pitching style

At the time of the MLB draft, Groome threw a four-seam fastball between 92–96 miles per hour (148–154 km/h), a changeup, and a curveball.[7] After recovering from Tommy John surgery, his fastball velocity declined to 90–94 miles per hour (145–151 km/h), but he also developed a cut fastball and a two-seam fastball.[31]

Personal life

Groome has two older sisters and two younger brothers.[6] As of November 2020, Jay Groome was living in Fort Myers, Florida.[35] In December 2020, Groome married Amanda Muller, also of Barnegat, New Jersey; the two were expecting their first child in July 2021.[36]

References

  1. ^ "Barnegat Pitcher Is Groome(d) for Success – Surf City, NJ – The SandPaper". Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Barnegat pitcher Groome transferring to Fla. prep school, commits to Vanderbilt". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  3. ^ "60 for '16: IMG Academy (Fla.) pitcher Jason Groome – USA Today High School Sports – USA Today High School Sports". USA Today High School Sports. June 20, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  4. ^ "Jersey Shore lefty Jason Groome, 16, already a huge talent". philly-archives. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "Jason Groome, possible No. 1 pick in MLB draft, ruled ineligible". ESPN.com. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Stanmyre, Matthew (April 16, 2016). "Advisor to No. 1 MLB prospect Jason Groome rips NJSIAA". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Draft prospects Groome, Rutherford look good at Perfect Game showcase". ESPN.com. August 17, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "Local 6–5 LHP Jason Groome a possible 1st pick for Phillies". Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  9. ^ "Could Jersey phenom Jason Groome be No. 1 pick in MLB draft?". NJ.com. October 5, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Ex-Phils ace speaks highly of a possible future one". philly-archives. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  11. ^ McGarry, Michael (June 8, 2016). "MLB prospect Jason Groome changes college commitment". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Edelson, Stephen (June 7, 2016). "Why is Jason Groome's stock falling as MLB Draft looms?". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  13. ^ "Barnegat's Jason Groome taken by Red Sox with 12th pick in MLB Draft". June 9, 2016.
  14. ^ Normandin, Marc (June 9, 2016). "2016 MLB Draft results: Red Sox select Jason Groome 12th overall". overthemonster.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  15. ^ Speier, Alex (July 14, 2016). "Red Sox agree to terms with top draft pick Jason Groome". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  16. ^ Mastrodonato, Jason (August 30, 2016). "Red Sox first-round pick Jason Groome promoted to Lowell". Boston Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "Jay Groome Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  18. ^ Perry, Dayn (May 9, 2018). "Red Sox's top pitching prospect Jason Groome to undergo Tommy John surgery". CBSSports.com.
  19. ^ "Jay Groome". soxprospects.com. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  20. ^ Cotillo, Chris (August 21, 2019). "Jay Groome, Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect, makes first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery". masslive.com. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  21. ^ Hatfield, Chris (October 4, 2020). "Red Sox 2020 Fall Instructional Camp roster and details". SoxProspects.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  22. ^ Speier, Alex (November 12, 2020). "Ranking the top prospects in the Red Sox' farm system". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  23. ^ Adams, Steve (November 20, 2020). "Red Sox Add 7 Players To 40-Man Roster; Weber, Hall Designated For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  24. ^ "Red Sox's Jay Groome: Shines in Double-A debut". CBS Sports. September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  25. ^ "Jay Groome Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  26. ^ Callis, Jim (April 6, 2022). "Here's where Red Sox Top 30 prospects are starting '22". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  27. ^ Hewitt, Steve (July 3, 2022). "Jay Groome 'on a mission' as Red Sox prospect continues to dream for big-league opportunity". Bostonherald.com. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  28. ^ "Boston Red Sox promote former first-round pick Jay Groome to Triple-A Worcester". masslive.com. July 14, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  29. ^ "Eric Hosmer heading to Red Sox after first baseman invokes no-trade clause in Padres-Nationals' Soto deal". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  30. ^ Cotillo, Chris (August 2, 2022). "Boston Red Sox trade for Eric Hosmer from Padres in 4-player deal". masslive.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  31. ^ a b Sanders, Jeff (August 26, 2022). "Minors: After trade, Jay Groome settling into El Paso's rotation". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  32. ^ "Padres' Jay Groome: Optioned to El Paso". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  33. ^ "Padres' Jay Groome: Sent down to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  34. ^ "MLB bans Tucupita Marcano for life for betting on baseball, four others get one-year suspensions". AP News. June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  35. ^ Smith, Christopher (November 21, 2020). "Jay Groome's road to Boston Red Sox 40-man roster took several detours; 'I've changed a lot from the kid I used to be'". MassLive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Instagram: jaygroome". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020. To my wife, thank you for everything you do to make me the person I am!

Further reading