Stu Pomeranz
| IP | 6 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3 |
| WHIP | 1.333 |
| BB/9 | 1.5 |
| SO/9 | 4.5 |
- Full name Stu Michael Pomeranz
- Born 12/17/1984 in Dallas, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'7" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Houston
- Debut 05/07/2012
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Drafted in the 2nd round (65th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003 (signed for $570,000).
View Draft Report
Though Adam Trent emerged suddenly and grabbed the state's highest Major League Scouting Bureau rating, the more established Pomeranz proved over the course of the spring that he's still Tennessee's best prospect. He went 9-0, 0.11 while averaging two strikeouts an inning. He has a stronger body at 6-foot-7 and 218 pounds to go with a deeper and more consistent repertoire. He has thrown in the low 90s every time out and shown good depth on a slurvy breaking ball. He has more room to improve than most of the top righthanders in this draft, but he doesn't have a real quick arm action so he may not reach the mid-90s. His only college commitment is to Chipola (Fla.) JC, so he's very signable and could go as early as the second round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Pomeranz pitched the entire 2005 season as a 20-year-old and earned a promotion to Double-A in May. He didn't post good numbers there but earned praise from some Texas League observers as the best arm on the Springfield staff, ahead of Chris Lambert. Pomeranz has the size and pitches to be an innings-eater. He's a solid 6-foot-7 with a fastball that now sits in the low 90s, a knuckle-curve and a changeup. His fastball has good sink and late movement that bores in on righthanders. Pomeranz needs to refine his command so he can avoid getting behind hitters and start missing more bats. He shows good arm speed with his changeup but still needs to improve the pitch to make it an effective third option. The Cardinals were impressed with Pomeranz' aptitude, confidence and consistency in Double-A, though his numbers weren't impressive. He'll probably go back to Springfield to open 2006 but could see Triple-A by the end of the year. If his changeup doesn't come around, his future will be in the bullpen. -
Pomeranz was a High School All-American in 2003, after a 13-1, 0.52 season his high school coach said was the most dominant he had ever seen. The Cardinals kept him in extended spring training to open the 2004 season, but he still led the system in wins despite making just 17 starts. Pomeranz throws an 88-92 mph fastball that showed good sink and more life last year than it had in 2003. He throws a knuckle-curve that's becoming more consistent, as well as an average changeup. He has a loose arm and a nice feel for pitching. His command is good for his stage of development. The Cardinals will take it slow with Pomeranz, as he's still learning how to handle a pro workload and needs to improve his conditioning. His offspeed pitches also need refinement and consistency. It's too early to know exactly what Pomeranz' ceiling might be, but his big frame and mound presence suggest he could pitch in the middle of a big league rotation someday. He'll move up to high Class A to start 2005. -
The top prospect in Tennessee for the 2003 draft, Pomeranz also earned High School All- America honors. He went 13-1, 0.52 with 165 strikeouts in 94 innings and had a 52-inning scoreless streak. The Cardinals signed him for $570,000 after making him a second-round pick, then gave him a light workload at Rookie-level Johnson City. They love his big body, which makes him projectable even though he already throws 88-92 mph. He also has an above-average curveball with good depth, and a changeup that's advanced for a prep pitcher. Pomeranz also has strong mound presence, a feel for pitching and the ability to throw strikes. He doesn't have a very quick arm, which may keep his velocity down a bit. Pomeranz' first real chance to prove himself as a pro will come in low Class A this season.
