Fernando Romero (SP, MIN) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 51% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Fernando Romero has been truly devastating since being called up to the big leagues. The former top-100 prospect has allowed just one earned run in 16 2/3 innings, striking out 20 batters. He has allowed nine walks, but has shown positive trends that display his talent.

The first positive number for Romero is his run prevention, helped by his strong ground ball rate that helps his 36.8% hard hit ball rate. If a pitcher is striking out 25+% or more batters and inducing 50% or more ground balls, he is truly elite; Romero is standing at 29% and 54.1% respectively. His aversion to allowing fly balls (24.3%) is something that he has been working on, as his fly ball rate has dropped each season since 2014. Finally, a 69.2% contact rate and 12.9% swinging strike rate show that Romero is overpowering hitters.

A start last Sunday means that Romero will only toe the rubber once this week, as he will face the Brewers in Minnesota on May 19. Either way, he is a priority addition that will only get better as he works on his control.