Jason Groome living "dream come true" as he signs with Red Sox

BOSTON — Jason Groome, the Red Sox first-round draft choice, grew up rooting for Boston.

"It all came down to who was going to pick me and who I felt the most comfortable with," said Groome. "When I got my name called by the Red Sox, it was just like a dream come true because they are my favorite team and it was just hard not to sign right away."

Mike Rikard, the Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting. said, "We were very confident that we going to make Jason part of the Red Sox family and we're extremely ecstatic to be here today."

Rikard said Groome will begin his professional career in the Gulf Coast League with Fort Myers, with the goal to move him to Lowell to join the Single A Spinners within the month.

"I think I'm more likely than ready because I trust my stuff," said Groome. "I've talked to some of my agents other clients and they've told me, 'If you pitch and do your thing, then you'll get outs,' so that's what I'm keeping in my head. When I get out there I'm just going to compete, throw strikes and try get outs and get a win."

"He's chomping at the bit to get going and we want to get him out there and get his feet under him, get him on our throwing program and certainly get him headed in the right direction as soon as possible, but I do anticipate that it will be a slow progression," said Rikard.

Groome's affinity for the Red Sox goes back to watching games with his dad on television.

"We have the same type of favorite players," said Groome. "He liked Pedro Martinez so every time I would be watching baseball with him, you know the Red Sox would be playing the Yankees and Pedro would be on the mound. I just grew up liking the Pedro style and how he played, and how the Red Sox played as a whole. It just mainly started like that.

"Now they have two of my favorite players playing for them - David Price and Dustin Pedroia - two great ball players and mainly, just because of my father, I've really grown a liking to them."

Cox Media Group