The Cincinnati Reds have reportedly traded right handed pitcher Franderlin Romero to the Baltimore Orioles, according to Dayton Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols, who was relayed the information pre-game by Dragons pitching coach Derrin Ebert.
Dragons pitching coach Derrin Ebert tells us on radio pre game…Franderlin Romero traded to Orioles. Don’t know any of the others involved
— Tom Nichols (@TomNichols02) May 23, 2016
The 23-year-old right hander had been having plenty of success for the Dragons thus far in 2016. He had posted a 2.87 ERA over the span of eight starts for Dayton. In 47.0 innings he had allowed 46 hits and nine walks to go along with 42 strikeouts. 12 of those strikeouts came in the same game, a 7.2 inning start against Kane County in which he took a perfect game into the 8th inning before allowing a hit with two outs to the final batter that he faced.
The Venezuelan native has spent his entire career in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He originally signed with the team in May of 2010 and pitched for the now defunct Venezuelan Summer League Reds in each of his first two seasons, posting an ERA under 3.00 in his 133.2 innings at the level. He worked his way up to the Dominican Summer League in 2012 before coming stateside in 2013 where he pitched for the Arizona Summer League Reds. In 2014 he made just two appearances before suffering a torn UCL and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2015 and pitched for the Billings Mustangs, posting a 3.48 ERA in 10 starts and five relief appearances. In his 67.1 innings he walked 21 batters and had 46 strikeouts coming off of the surgery.
As of right now there is no known return for Romero from the Baltimore Orioles. Update: second report, this one from Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer says that the deal does not involve any Major Leaguers.
Per league source, Reds Low-A pitcher Franderlin Romero has been traded to Baltimore. Been told no big league pieces in the deal.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZachENQ) May 24, 2016
Update: Romero was traded for two slots of 2015-2016 international bonus slot signing money, which I wrote about a bit more extensively here.