Draft prospect Romero emerges as JUCO ace

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — JoJo Romero isn’t pondering the exciting certitude of becoming a pro prospect. At least not yet.

The 6-foot sophomore southpaw at Yavapai College (Ariz.) is competing at the Junior College World Series, and his team has advanced to the title game, where he’ll start what will likely be the final amateur game of his career.

“Next week, when we go back home, that’s when you get to sit down with your family and start embracing it and taking it all in,” Romero told MLB.com of next week’s MLB Draft. “Then Thursday, Friday, Saturday, just see what comes my way and go from there.”

Romero is not expected to re-sign with a Division I school — he spent last year with Nevada — and on Thursday was unveiled at No. 124 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 200 Draft prospects.

Durability has been the concern that litters his scouting report, but the 20-year-old Romero has defied that stigma in what has been a transitional year in many ways, going from Division I reliever to JUCO ace. Romero has catapulted from being a raw arm in Nevada’s bullpen into a top-of-the-rotation starter, logging an innings uptick by 73 2/3 frames.

“He’s up over 100 innings. He’s up over 100 strikeouts. His strike percentage is pushing 65 [percent], so I think the durability factor comes from the stereotype of not being 6-foot-4,” Yavapai head coach Ryan Cougill said. “But he does this: He takes care of his body. He knows he’s got a future ahead of him and he’s very disciplined in his approach with his what we call ‘prehab’ — his preparation for his arm care.”

Romero has taken a significant leap since transferring last fall. Now as a starter, …

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