Houston Reinstates Ace Lefthander Seth Romero After Suspension

Houston has reinstated lefthander Seth Romero on Monday after the junior missed four starts due to an unspecified violation of university and athletic department policy.

“Seth Romero has met all conditions required during the term of his suspension,” Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement. “He has been fully reinstated to the Houston baseball program and will resume all baseball activities effectively immediately.”

The suspension was the second in two years for Romero, who ranks as one of the top college pitchers in the draft class. He was also suspended the first two weeks of last season for conduct detrimental to the team. He returned from that ban to go 6-4, 2.29 with 113 strikeouts and 28 walks in 94.1 innings.

Romero, a Preseason All-American, was the Cougars’ Opening Day starter and was off to a strong start to the season. He is 3-3, 3.05 and, at the time of the suspension, led the country with 76 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. He has risen on draft boards this spring, and ranks 10th on the Top 100 Draft Prospects list.

In the last weekend of March, Houston coach Todd Whitting announced that Romero had been removed from the rotation due to a violation of team rules during a trip to Central Florida. But the suspension went a step further, removing him from the team completely.

“At this time, it is important for Seth to focus primarily on his academic and personal life,” Yurachek said at that time.

Without Romero, Houston (28-15, 9-6 AAC) started lefthander Trey Cumbie on the weekend, a sophomore who is 6-1, 2.61 in 10 starts this season.