Romano established himself as a reliable, top-end closer in 2022, recording 78.3% of Toronto's saves, which was the fourth-highest percentage among all relievers. His 36 saves tied for fourth in the league, while his 64 innings in 63 appearances were also career highs. Romano posted a career best walk rate (8.1%), though his strikeout rate dipped 5.3 percentage points to a still above-average 28.3%. Interestingly, Romano reversed his pitch usage for the fourth straight year, throwing his fastball (48% pitch usage) far less often than he did in 2021. This is notable since Romano's heater has been more effective than his slider in recent seasons. He did lose some velocity on the fastball, but still averaged 96.9 mph, which was in the 92nd percentile. The Blue Jays retained John Schneider as their manager, who has relied on Romano heavily since taking over. Expect another season with 30-plus saves. Read Past Outlooks