What’s the latest on JoJo Romero’s recovery from Tommy John surgery?

Phillies left-handed reliever JoJo Romero underwent Tommy John surgery on May 25, 2021. The typical recovery timeline is 12-18 months and it appears Romero is slated to fall on the shorter end of it.

Per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Romero is currently throwing in live batting practice down in Clearwater, Fl. Among Romero, Sam Coonrod and Kent Emmanuel, the three Phillies pitchers currently on the 60-day injured list, Romero is the closest to beginning a rehab assignment. Zolecki estimates Romero’s return at “early June or later.”

Romero, 25, made his debut as a bullpen arm during the shortened 2020 season. Three rough appearances inflated his ERA to 7.59 over 10 2/3 innings pitched, but he did hold the opponent scoreless in eight of his 12 outings that season. He pitched in 11 games for the Phillies before heading to the injured list with a left elbow sprain.

Romero, a former fourth-round pick of the Phillies back in 2016, was ranked as high as No. 5 in 2019 on Baseball America’s Phillies top prospect list.

As far as the other injured pitchers go, Coonrod, per Zolecki, is playing catch from short distances. He’s on the injured list with a strained right shoulder. Emanuel (left elbow impingement) could begin throwing live BP soon.

Left hander Ryan Sherriff (left biceps tendinitis) is also playing catch from short distances. He’s currently on the 10-day injured list and does not have a timetable for when he will begin throwing off the mound. It wouldn’t be surprising if Sherriff is moved to the 60-day injured list once the Phillies need a roster spot to open up.

Romero, Coonrod, Emanuel and Sherriff all have minor league options remaining, so it’s not a guarantee that any of them will be in the majors once they fully recover from their injuries.

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