Ricky Romero Promoted to New Hampshire

Lefty pitcher Ricky Romero, Toronto's first round pick (sixth overall) in last year's draft, was added to the Fisher Cats roster today from High-A Dunedin. Also, infielder Danny Solano was added to New Hampshire's roster from Triple-A Syracuse. Third baseman Eric Arnold was sent from the Fisher Cats to Dunedin to make room for Solano.

No corresponding move has been made yet to make room on the roster for Romero.

The 21-year-old Romero began the season in extended spring training and joined the Dunedin Blue Jays in May. He was 2-1 with a 2.47 ERA in ten starts with Dunedin this season. In 58.1 innings pitched, he held opponents to a .224 batting average. He had 61 strikeouts and 14 walks. Last year, in his pro debut season, he went 1-0 with a 3.58 ERA in nine starts between Auburn and Dunedin. He pitched in college at Cal State Fullerton, leading his team to the College World Series title in 2004 as a sophomore.

The 30-year-old Solano began this season with the Syracuse SkyChiefs, where he hit .222 with one home run and four RBI in 26 games as a utility player. He spent all of last season in Syracuse as well, hitting .243 with three homers and 22 RBI in 57 games. He spent most of the 2004 season with the Fisher Cats, hitting .234 with one homer and 26 RBI in 103 games. The Dominican native was signed by the Blue Jays as a Minor League free agent on May 3, 2002. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Texas Rangers on December 29, 1996.

The 25-year-old Arnold has spent the entire season in New Hampshire, hitting .255 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 44 games. He spent all of last season with Dunedin, where he hit .274 with a team-leading and career-high 19 homers. He also drove in a career-high 72 runs. He was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2002 draft out of Rice University.