Drew Rom took the mound for his fourth career Major League start with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
But unlike the other three starts, this one came minutes across the Ohio River from where he grew up facing the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark. The 23-year-old worked his way through the minor leagues going straight to rookie ball after graduating from Highlands in 2018.
“It was just a mixture of pride, a little bit of anxiousness,” Rom said. “I was just excited to be out there pitching in the hometown big league stadium in front of hundreds of your closest family and friends, whoever else is in the stands that you don’t know. They’ve been watching me every step. It really just brings me home and makes me feel like a normal person seeing everyone because up here, you’re kind of idolized. It’s nice to come back and hang out with friends and see everyone that you grew up with, remembering where you came up and remembering where you came from.”
Highlands head baseball coach Jeremy Baioni was one of those people in the stands watching him. Rom pitched 3.2 innings, walking two and allowing two earned runs and seven hits. The Cardinals came out on top, 9-4.
“Just like I’ve been telling everyone, it really is just like a dream come true,” Rom said. “I’m honored to be that one percent that does end up getting to the major league level. I am just taking every opportunity to soak every bit of this experience. That means a lot for my family, my friends and everyone here that’s been with me every step of the way.”
Rom made his way to St. Louis via Baltimore, the Orioles drafting him in the fourth round with the 115th pick in 2018. He was called up in May with Baltimore on May 9 and 10 before the team optioned him back to AAA Norfolk.
Rom came over to St. Louis in a trade for Jack Flaherty with two others on Aug. 1, where he started his tenure in AAA Memphis. He impressed in his first two starts with the Redbirds, striking out 18 batters and earning the call up to the Big Show on Aug. 21. Rom made his MLB debut that day, lasting 3.2 innings in a 11-1 road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rom struck out four, walked four and allowed eight hits and six earned runs.
“Just a little extra added stress,” Rom said. “But I couldn’t ask for a better team to get traded to or a better opportunity because all of the guys here are phenomenal. Day in and day out, they’re some of the best guys that I’ve met. They’re just here to help me every step of the way, which is phenomenal.”
His next start Aug. 27 in Philadelphia ended with a 3-0 loss. But Rom pitched 5.1 innings, striking out six and surrendering two earned runs. He struck out Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber after giving up a leadoff home run to Schwarber in the bottom of the first.
“If you make a mistake, you’re going to pay for it. That’s what they’ve been doing,” Rom said. “I try to minimize my mistakes in a game. Even if I do throw a mistake, how do I not make it hurt as bad? It’s understanding the game, understanding what it means to be here.”
Rom is 0-2 in his young career. He owns a 7.79 earned-run average with 11 strikeouts, 11 walks, 25 hits and 15 earned runs in 17.1 innings pitched.
“I think a lot of what helps new guys is just getting comfortable with your surroundings, getting to know your teammates, understanding the way that the schedule works and how we get things going every day,” said Dusty Blake, Cardinals Pitching Coach. “He’s done a good job diving into his own personal performances and being able to communicate what he feels like he sees, which helps me as his coach get on the same page with the next step and the direction we’re trying to go.”
Rom’s second start against the Pirates on Sept. 2 went better. He lasted 4.2 innings, striking out one, walking three and allowing three earned runs and five hits in a 7-6 loss.
Rom’s goal is to improve one percent every day for the Cardinals. Rom said he has basically every pitch in his repertoire except for the cutter.
“I think if you’re not able to take steps forward in this game and you’re being still, stagnant and content where you’re at, I think that’s where you start to get passed up on,” Rom said. “I think every day I’m out here is just another great opportunity to refine my repertoire, refine anything that makes me the pitcher that I am. Even the mental is huge for me up here. It started with Adam Wainwright and all the other starting pitchers and relievers, too. It’s a different mindset. It’s a different atmosphere. It’s just different things to learn from each level.”
After playing a full year in Class A ball for the Delray Shorebirds in 2019, Rom moved up to AA in 2021 then to AAA last year. Rom went 34-15 in the minor leagues with a 3.71 ERA, striking out 532 batters, walking 162 and allowing 186 earned runs and 430 hits.
Rom admits the mental aspect of the game has had its challenges. Rom has gone from playing 30-45 games in the spring in high school to playing in a league with a 162-game schedule.
“It does take a toll on you. But everyone else is out there doing the same thing,” Rom said. “It’s ultimately learning how they did it. That’s the name of the game, bouncing ideas off every guy. I think that was what proved to be in the stepping stones is how to handle yourself mentally when you’re playing every single day. It may not be going the way you want. But how are you going to go out there the next day and get better? How do you change the mindset to be more successful the next day?”
Rom said remaining on an even keel is a key to success in the Majors. If he walks a batter here, the hope is to maybe get a ground ball for a double play with the next batter. Rom said his goal is to pitch five or six innings and hold opponents to two, three runs at the most to give the Cardinals the chance to win.
“You would not watch his outings and feel like he’s sped up or that he’s emotional or any of that,” Blake said. “He’s been able to keep his composure, maintain his breath and his timing. I think he’s certainly looked like a veteran when that comes to mind.”
The Cardinals may be in the National League Central basement at 63-81 overall. But Rom is optimistic about the future for the 11-time World Series champions.
“I think this year was a down year. But next year, we’ll be back to the Cardinals team we’re expected to be,” Rom said. “The Cardinals organization expects to be in the playoffs every year. Right now, we have a playoff-caliber team. It’s just we started off a little rough. We had some injuries and just kind of had some setbacks.”
Rom’s next start is slated for Wednesday against the AL East division leading Baltimore Orioles. Game time is 6:35 p.m.