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Draft  | Story | 5/15/2010

Player Spotlight: Drew Pomeranz

Patrick Ebert
A 12th-round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 2007 draft, left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz decided to honor his college commitment to Ole Miss, less than 100 miles south of his hometown in Collierville, Tenn. It didn’t take him long to earn a spot in the weekend rotation, and he’s spent most of those starts taking the mound on Fridays against the always-tough SEC schedule.

Both Pomeranz’s father and uncle played for Ole Miss, and his brother Stuart was a second-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in the 2003 draft. Armed with a very good fastball-curveball combo, Drew has led the nation in strikeouts for much of the season and has been nearly unhittable since Regional play began late last May. He also served as the ace for the Team USA College National Team last summer, and has elevated his stock to put himself in the conversation for the first handful of picks for this year’s draft.

I spoke to Pomeranz after his most recent start against a difficult Arkansas team about playing for Ole Miss, pitching in the SEC, the things that allow him to be so successful and his experiences over the past calendar year.

Perfect Game (PG):  If you had to single out one part of your game that has allowed you to enjoy the amount of success since Day 1 upon arriving at Ole Miss, what would it be?

Drew Pomeranz (DP):  I’ve always had the mentality to go right after people, so I think that plays a big part. Some guys may come in being a little tentative with their stuff, but I just went out there from Day 1 and attacked people, located my pitches and tried to build and get better from every start.

PG: Do you have a pretty good idea on a game-to-game basis how well you’re going to throw and what pitches are going to be working for you prior to taking the mound?

DP:  Some days you’re not feeling one pitch over the other and you gotta battle through it, but you know pretty much what’s working for you when you’re in the bullpen before the games.

PG:  How hard do you throw your fastball?

DP:  This year I’ve run it up to 95. I was hitting 96, 97 in a couple of games during my freshman year, and 96 last year.

PG:  What led to the development of your knuckle-curve?

DP:  My dad actually taught me and my brother it when I was like 10 or 11. It was something he learned in high school. You didn’t have to worry about throwing too many breaking balls and putting a strain on your elbow because it’s thrown a different way. It’s thrown straight forward, so you kind of flick it instead of snapping your wrist like a normal curveball.

PG:  The times I have seen you pitch I’ve noticed that you don’t throw your changeup very often. Is that because you haven’t needed it, you don’t feel as comfortable with it or a little of both?

DP:  I feel pretty comfortable with it because when (the catcher) calls for it I pump it right in the zone. That’s usually three or four times a game, maybe more, but usually around there. There’s really no need for me to throw more, because a lot of times when I throw it in there it speeds up a lot of the college hitters that have slow bats. They run right into it, so that plays a part as to why I don’t throw it as much.

PG:  Going back to your brother Stuart, he was once a promising prospect in the Cardinals’ system and continues to pursue a baseball career. What are some of the things you have learned from him as to how to handle yourself both on and off the field?

DP:  I’ve worked with him on my changeup and the break of it, switching from a four-seam circle change to a two-seam circle change. He’s actually playing AA with the Rockies this year, so I get to hear different things day-to-day that he goes through.

PG:  A big adjustment players need to make upon entering minor league ball is the travel that is involved. Has he given you any advice as to handle that part or any other part of life in the minors outside of the time spent at the stadium?

DP:  I have all kinds of experience (traveling) already in the summer playing with Team USA.  We were traveling every day, flying to Japan (etc.). You don’t even sleep for a day or two, it’s pretty grueling doing some of that stuff. We took something like 25 plane rides last summer, and the year before that I was with the USA trials. There was probably more travel then some of these minor league teams do. We played a game, went to the hotel, slept, woke up in the morning, packed everything up, went somewhere else, played another game, and did it all over again. Every day we were moving, town to town to town. So I kind of got a little feel for that already.

PG:  Do you think that’s part of the reason some players decide to play on the Cape, which is the exact opposite as far as travel is involved?

DP:  I don’t know. I think the Cape is all about the exposure, because that’s usually where the best guys usually go. But I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been to any of those leagues.

PG:  How big of a deal was it to you to be able to not only participate with Team USA, but to enjoy the incredible amount of success that you did?

DP:  It’s awesome playing for your country. Everybody’s watching you, and you’re playing with the top guys in the country. It’s fun playing in front of the crowds because they get into it, and they support you real well. It’s nice to have success too, as it feels good to pitch well in the summer, especially with the grueling travel schedule and all of the other things involved.

PG:  Playing in the SEC and for Team USA, you have played with and against some really good players. Is there one hitter that stands out to you as the guy you just couldn’t seem to get out?

DP:  I didn’t really have my best stuff this weekend, as I wasn’t throwing as hard and wasn’t locating that well, but I couldn’t get (Arkansas third baseman) Zack Cox out.

PG:  Speaking of that game, in the seventh inning with a runner on second and two outs you were coached to intentionally walk Cox (who was three-for-three against Pomeranz in his previous three at-bats) before giving up a three-run home run to Brett Eibner. How much would you like to have either one of those at-bats back?

DP:  I think it is more that I would like to take the pitch back that (Eibner) hit. He’s a home-run swinger, with something like 17 home runs, and I threw him a changeup. Like I said, some of these guys with big, long swings run right into the changeup, which is why I don’t throw it as much. So I’d like to take that pitch back and stick with my fastball-curveball and go with what got me there and maybe there’s a different turnout.

PG:  On that note, how important is it for you to have a short memory?

DP:  It’s always good to have a short memory so you don’t get hung up on things that happen. A part of our team mentality, we talk about going 200 feet at a time and not looking back. Just focus on the next thing and flush whatever happened in the past.

PG:  You have been on an incredibly dominant run since the Regionals late last year, when you started two out of four games with only two days rest. Is there anything specific you can point to  for your success?

DP:  You’re told that every week you learn something about yourself and every week is a learning experience. Whether I have to fight through not having your best stuff or I learn stuff about my mechanics and things I can fix quickly here and there, I try to get better every start and not do the same things wrong that I’ve done in the past. Each outing for me is a learning process.

PG: What is your greatest accomplishment up to this point in your career?

DP:  Pitching last year in the Regionals I threw 24 innings in eight or nine days.  I was 2-0 and I was almost 3-0 but we ended up losing a game in the Super Regionals late. The second game that I pitched against Western Kentucky I threw a complete game and had 16 strikeouts, which tied a school record. It was awesome, we went around the stadium high-fiving all of the fans and signing autographs. It was just an amazing experience.

PG:  Speaking of the fans, what is it like pitching in front of one of the best crowds for one of the nation’s most successful college baseball programs?

DP:  It’s awesome. These fans are here, they’re into it every pitch, and they make it tough on other teams. Most teams aren’t used to playing with crowds like that, cheering for us and everything we do. I feel like we have the best fans in the country, whether there’s eight thousand , nine thousand fans here or one or two thousand, they’re into every pitch.

PG:  With the draft less than a month away, do you have a sense as to which teams are paying the closest attention to you?

DP:  Not really, they don’t say too much and I try not to think about it too much. I just try to go out there and do what I can every week. If I play as best as I can every week the rest will take care of itself.

PG:  Between school, college baseball and a potential future baseball career, is it difficult to focus on just life in general sometimes this spring?

DP:  Nah. It’s not something I let bother me too much. I try not to think about it. I’m pretty even-keeled about it all.

PG: Would you like to share some words of wisdom with players three to five years younger than you looking to follow in your footsteps?

DP:  Mine would be to those trying to decide to sign out of high school or go to college. I feel going to college you learn a lot of things and grow up a little bit. You may think you’re ready, and you’re an 18-year-old kid with all that money staring at you and you think you’re ready for it. Just like I thought, too. But three years of college allowed me to grow up a little bit and learn how to pitch. Especially playing in the SEC, you play against some of the best players in the country that prepares you to play against the players you will down the road.

The thoughts and opinions listed here do not necessarily reflect those of Perfect Game USA.  Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and 5 Tool Talk, and can be contacted via email at pebert@5tooltalk.com.
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