| Drew Pomeranz | |
|---|---|
 Pomeranz with theBoston Red Sox in 2017 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1988-11-22)November 22, 1988 (age 37) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 11, 2011, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 50–60 |
| Earned run average | 3.82 |
| Strikeouts | 940 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Thomas Andrew Pomeranz (born November 22, 1988), nicknamedBig Smooth, is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theColorado Rockies,Oakland Athletics,Boston Red Sox,San Francisco Giants,Milwaukee Brewers,San Diego Padres, andChicago Cubs. Pomeranz was anMLB All-Star with the Padres in 2016, and aWorld Series champion with the Red Sox in 2018.
Pomeranz is fromCollierville, Tennessee. He was selected in the 12th round of the2007 Major League Baseball draft by theTexas Rangers,[1] but did not sign and opted to playcollege baseball for theUniversity of Mississippi.[2] He also received scholarship offers fromTennessee,Memphis, andMississippi State and was recruited heavily byLSU andAlabama.[3] Pomeranz pitched theUnited States Collegiate National Team to a victory in the 2009World Baseball Challenge, throwing a one-hitter in the championship game against theGerman national baseball team.[4] He finished the tournament with a 4–1 record and a 1.75earned run average (ERA), while also leading the team with 48 strikeouts.[5][6] Pomeranz was the 2010 recipient of the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy (now theC Spire Ferriss Trophy), awarded annually to Mississippi's top collegiate baseball player.[7]
Pomeranz was initially drafted by theTexas Rangers in 2007 but decided to go to college instead.[8] He was then drafted by theCleveland Indians in the first round of the2010 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Indians on August 16, 2010, right before the deadline; his contract, which included a $2.65 millionsigning bonus, was the largest bonus given to a college pitcher in the draft that year.
He was considered one of the top 50 prospects in baseball in 2011.[9]
On July 31, 2011, Pomeranz,Alex White, Joe Gardner, andMatt McBride were traded to theColorado Rockies forUbaldo Jiménez.[10] He made his Major League debut when he started and pitched five scoreless innings to pick up the win against theCincinnati Reds on September 11.[11][12] He made 4 starts in September 2011, finishing 1–2 with a 5.40 ERA.
After employing a 75-pitch limit after the first month of the season, Pomeranz averaged less than 5 innings per start. On May 7, 2012, Pomeranz hit his first career home run.[13] Pomeranz spent the 2012 season between Triple–A and the Rockies rotation, making 22 starts for them despite recording a 2–9 record. For the 2013 season, Pomeranz began the season in Triple–A and would only appear in 8 games, 4 starts for the Rockies.
On December 10, 2013, Pomeranz, along with minor league pitcher Chris Jensen, was traded to theOakland Athletics for pitcherBrett Anderson.[14][15] Pomeranz began 2014 as a member of the A's bullpen, where he made 9 appearances, going 1–1 with a 1.98 ERA in 13.2 innings, before being moved to the rotation on May 9 to replace the strugglingDan Straily.[16] Pomeranz did not give up a run in the rotation until his fourth start, on May 25, giving Oakland three 5-inning starts of shutout ball before.[17] He made 8 starts, going 4–3 with a 3.21 ERA, striking out 37 in 42 innings, before fracturing his non-throwing hand by punching a wooden chair after giving up 8 runs in 3.2 innings against the Rangers on June 16.[18]Brad Mills took his spot in the rotation as Pomeranz went on the disabled list.[19] He was recalled from theSacramento River Cats on August 27 for a start against theHouston Astros.[20] He was optioned to theBeloit Snappers the next day. In his first season as an Oakland Athletic, Pomeranz posted a career low 2.35 ERA in 20 games, 10 starts for the A's.
For the 2015 season, Pomeranz was shifted to the bullpen while also starting 9 games for the A's. Despite raising his ERA a full run higher from the previous season, Pomeranz finished appearing in a career-high 53 games, recording 3 saves and logging in 86 innings.
On December 2, 2015, the Athletics traded Pomeranz,José Torres, and aplayer to be named later or cash considerations to theSan Diego Padres forMarc Rzepczynski andYonder Alonso.[21][22] Pomeranz approached Padres'managerAndy Green about giving him an opportunity to start. Pomeranz made the Padres' starting rotation, and was named to appear in the2016 MLB All-Star Game after posting a 2.47 ERA and leading the NL with a .184batting average against in the first half.[23]
During the2016 MLB All-Star break, the Padres traded Pomeranz to theBoston Red Sox forAnderson Espinoza, a highly regarded minor league pitching prospect.[24] On September 16, 2016, Padres general managerA. J. Preller was suspended for 30 days for keeping two sets of medical records for players—one internal and one for league use. There had been several instances of duplicate records, but the suspension was handed out specifically with respect to the Pomeranz trade.[25]
With the2016 Red Sox, Pomeranz pitched to a 4.59 ERA and a record of 3–5, recording 71 strikeouts and 24 walks in68+2⁄3 innings of work in 14 regular season appearances (13 starts). That season he led all major league pitchers incurveball percentage (39.2%).[26] He also tied for the major league lead in bunt hits allowed, with eight.[27] In theALDS against theCleveland Indians, he made two relief appearances, allowing two runs in3+2⁄3 innings (4.91 ERA).
For the2017 Red Sox, Pomeranz had a record of 17–6 with a 3.32 ERA in 32 appearances (all starts), registering 174 strikeouts and 69 walks in173+2⁄3 regular season innings. For the second consecutive season he led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage (37.0%).[28] In the postseason, he started Game 2 of theALDS against theHouston Astros; he only pitched into the third inning while allowing four runs (18.00 ERA) and took the loss.[29]
During the2018 Red Sox season, Pomeranz made his first start on April 20, after beginning the season on the disabled list due to a flexor strain.[30] Through the end of May, his record was 1–3 with a 6.81 ERA. On June 5, he was placed on the disabled list due to left bicepstendinitis;[31] he was activated on July 24 as arelief pitcher.[32] He remained in the bullpen for the remainder of the season, finishing at 2–6 with a 6.08 ERA in 26 games (11 starts) for Boston. Pomeranz was initially not included on Boston's postseason roster,[33] but was added for theWorld Series in place ofBrandon Workman.[34] Although Pomeranz did not pitch in the World Series, the Red Sox beat theLos Angeles Dodgers in five games, making Pomeranz a World Series champion for the first time in his career.[35]
On January 23, 2019, Pomeranz signed with theSan Francisco Giants[36] on a one-year contract worth $1.5 million and including an additional $3.5 million attainable through incentives.[37] He was moved to the bullpen on July 20 after he struggled with a 6.10 ERA in 17 starts and a 2–9 record.[38]
On July 31, 2019, the Giants traded Pomeranz andRay Black to theMilwaukee Brewers forMauricio Dubon.[39]
On November 27, 2019, Pomeranz signed a four-year contract with theSan Diego Padres.[40] Pomeranz began the shortened 2020 season with 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a three-run home run toWilmer Flores of theSan Francisco Giants on September 25, in the final series of the season.[41]
In 2021 for the Padres, Pomeranz pitched to a 1.75 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 27 appearances. On August 14, 2021, it was announced that Pomeranz would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon.[42]
Pomeranz began the 2022 season in recovery as he was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 28, 2022.[43] He did not appear in a game for San Diego in 2022, and began the 2023 season on the injured list as he recovered from left elbow flexor tendon surgery.[44] On May 23, 2023, Pomeranz underwent an additional surgery, described by managerBob Melvin as a 'cleanup' procedure.[45] On September 19, it was announced that Pomeranz would not appear for San Diego in 2023 after he experienced a setback in his rehabilitation in Triple–AEl Paso.[46] He became a free agent following the season.
On February 14, 2024, Pomeranz signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Angels.[47] He was released by the Angels organization on March 24[48] and signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers on March 29.[49] On April 19, Pomeranz opted out of his contract and became a free agent[50] only to re-sign with them on a new minor league deal the following day.[51] In eight games for the Triple–AOklahoma City Baseball Club, he posted a 6.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts across nine innings of work before he was released by the organization on May 23.[52]
On May 24, 2024, Pomeranz signed a one–year, major league contract with theSan Francisco Giants.[53] He did not make an appearance for the Giants before he was designated for assignment on May 28.[54] Pomeranz cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–ASacramento River Cats on May 31. However, he rejected the assignment and subsequently elected free agency.[55]
On November 26, 2024, Pomeranz signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners.[56] Pomeranz was released by the Mariners on March 23, 2025, but re-signed with the organization on a new minor league contract on March 27.[57] He made nine appearances for the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers, recording a 4.66 ERA with 14 strikeouts and two saves across9+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On April 21, 2025, Pomeranz was traded to theChicago Cubs after exercising the upward mobility clause in his contract.[58][59]
Pomeranz married his longtime girlfriend, Carolyn Esserman, on November 19, 2016. His older brotherStu also played in MLB. Drew and Stu are great-grandsons of former professional football and baseball playerGarland Buckeye, making them the second and third players in history to be great-grandsons of a former Major League player.[60] Pomeranz and his wife have one son.
· Baseball Almanac
