A Difficult Pro Debut:
Groome left his first start of the year for A-ball Greenville in the second inning after getting roughed up and developing some lat tightness. When he returned in June, it was for the Low-A Lowell Spinners. In three starts there he allowed four runs in 11 innings, striking out 14. His final start before being promoted back to Greenville was stellar. 5 IP, 6 K, 2 BB and 0 ER.
He would spend the rest of the season on the mound for the Drive, and his results were inconsistent. Allowing 24 ER over 43 IP with 57 K, 22BB, and a 5.02 ERA, his run of 10 games including four in which he went 4 IP or fewer, two in which he allowed 5 ER, two in which he allowed 3 ER and one with 4 ER. He also left his final start of the year with forearm tightness and was shut down for his last two starts and the playoffs. That decision appears to have been precautionary.
The Silver Lining:
While his ERA and injury issues are worrisome, Groome had an 11.93 K/9 in that 10 game stretch demonstrating that his stuff is still there. With a strong start on Saturday, striking out 6 in 3 IP (watch the video here) as a reminder of the stud draft prospect the team selected more than a year and a half ago, the question remains: Can he get back to being a top pitching prospect in the game?
Chris Sale thinks so: