Drew Pomeranz Padres Spring Surprise

The Padres were hoping something like this would happen this Spring Training down in Peoria, Arizona. They entered Spring Training trying to sort through a handful of starters to find their fourth and fifth starters. They were hoping that Brandon Maurer could make the transition from the Padres bullpen in 2015 to the rotation in 2016 per his own desire. Now it appears that Drew Pomeranz might make that same transition after coming over from the A’s in the off-season.

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Though spring training is close to wrapping up, Pomeranz pitched four solid innings Wednesday and should have two more chances to show his moxy to the Padres brass after the Padres announced earlier this week that Maurer is a better fit out of the bullpen to start the season.

Andy Green expressed his pleasure after witnessing the outing by Pomeranz Wednesday:

“He’s making a very strong right now, Austin Hedges came in in the middle of the game and was just raving about how the ball was moving — how the fastball was jumping, how the cutter was cutting in on righties. You can see the shape of the curveball from the dugout, so you know that’s got life to it. He can really spin the ball.”

It was only one start, but it did help to salvage a spring that from a numbers perspective hasn’t looked great for Pomeranz. He has allowed 7 earned runs in 11 innings with 9 hits allowed. The hit he did allow Wednesday was a home run, but the Padres like the stuff they have seen from him and his mental makeup.

Pomeranz for his part is trying to build on the strong promise that started his career. He was drafted in the first round in the Indians before being dealt to the Rockies as the player to be named later in the trade that brought Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. In three seasons and 30 starts in Colorado, he pitched to a record of 4-14 with a 5.20 ERA. Yet Green acknowledged that is a tough gauge of any player, especially a young pitcher:

“There’s a lot of guys that don’t have success in that environment. His stuff, the way it’s playing right now, will be successful no matter where he pitches.”

In 2014 for Oakland, he made 10 starts and pitched in 20 games before 2015 where he only made 9 starts but appeared in 53 total games. He dropped his ERA down and certainly has shown the dominant potential. There would be a question of his durability, but with Brandon Morrow on the rehab trend and there certain to be another odd man out between Colin Rea and Robbie Erlin, he might be the better left handed option to start the season in the rotation.

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Pomeranz is taking it all in stride, focusing on what he can do and learning from the process. He is now more comfortable in throwing a cutter and changeup than in past seasons which would greatly add his starting pitching potential. Since he never thrown more than 100 innings in a season it is unclear how long the Padres would be able to ride him as a starter anyway, but he is just focusing on what is in front of him.

“I’m just going out there trying to get better all-around as a pitcher — help me wherever I am, starting or relieving, that’s all I’m focusing on.”