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Will Venable is hoping to turn his team around in 2026.
The Chicago White Sox have claimed former Colorado Rockies catcher Drew Romo off waivers from the New York Mets, according to a club announcement. The White Sox have designated infielder Ben Cowles for assignment to open up a 40-man roster spot.
The Chicago White Sox have claimed catcher Drew Romo off waivers from the New York Mets. To make room for Romo on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated infielder Ben Cowles for assignment.
Once a first-round pick by the Rockies (No. 35 overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft, Romo has had a fall from grace in recent seasons.
Romo was the No. 84 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s Pre-2023 rankings. This followed strong outings in Single-A and High-A from 2021 to 2022. In 2023, he enjoyed another strong season between Double-A and Triple-A, having a .762 combined OPS.
What Does Romo Bring to the Chicago White Sox?
During the 2024 season, Romo mashed in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with an .837 OPS. He was then elevated to the Rockies’ major league roster late that season and struggled mightily.
In 51 at-bats in the big leagues, Romo had a .176/.208/.235 slashline with no home runs and six runs driven in.
In 2025, it was much of the same. Romo had his numbers decline in the minors, but was elevated for just three games as a pinch hitter in September. In those three games, Romo did not register a hit. striking out in all three of his at-bats.
While labeled as a quality defensive catcher with a strong arm, Romo has seen his offensive output decline. His minor league strikeout rate has ballooned from 17.8% in 2024 to 25.8% in 2025.
His major league strikeout rate is much worse, with an astounding 37.5% strikeout rate. Romo is also fast for a catcher, stealing 53 bases in five minor league seasons.
Where Does Romo Fit?
While Romo is more than likely a defensive-minded depth piece in the minors, he has two option years remaining.
Chicago currently has three catchers on the roster with major league experience. Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero and Korey Lee all provide significant value for the White Sox. Both Teel and Quero are former top 100 prospects and had solid rookie seasons in 2025. Teel has a claim to the starting job going forward, while Quero could be a backup and designated hitter
As for Lee, he has four years of major league experience under his belt, including a 125-game 2024 season. While he has struggled offensively at the major league level, his defensive versatility and rocket arm more than make up for his hitting deficiencies.
Lee still has four years of control remaining and could be either a trade or depth piece on the roster.
Still 24, and not far removed from being a top 100 prospect, Romo still has potential to succeed in the right organization. While he moves from a very hitter-friendly league, if he can improve upon his strikeout rate, there’s a chance for him to be a solid backup.
Cowles, still yet to make his major league debut, is known as a serviceable defender with a below-average bat. He has solid speed, making it a strong possibility that he is picked up off waivers by another team.
Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer
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