Drew Pomeranz Bio
Thomas Andrew Pomeranz, nicknamed Big Smooth, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs. Pomeranz was an MLB All-Star with the Padres in 2016, and a World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2018.
Born on November 22, 1988, in Collierville, Tennessee, Pomeranz has spent more than a decade pitching in the major leagues after a decorated amateur career in Mississippi. He is recognized for his curveball-heavy approach and for a 2017 season in which he posted a 17–6 record for Boston.
Early Life and Background
Drew Pomeranz grew up in Collierville, Tennessee, where he developed into a highly regarded left-handed pitcher during his high school years. He drew attention from college recruiters across the Southeast, ultimately choosing to play college baseball at the University of Mississippi. He also held scholarship offers from Tennessee, Memphis, and Mississippi State, while LSU and Alabama recruited him heavily.
In the summers before his professional career, Pomeranz pitched for the United States Collegiate National Team in the 2009 World Baseball Challenge. He threw a one-hitter in the championship game against the German national baseball team, finishing the tournament with a 4–1 record, a 1.75 earned run average (ERA), and a team-leading 48 strikeouts. In 2010, he was named the recipient of the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy, awarded annually to Mississippi’s top collegiate baseball player.
Path to Baseball
Pomeranz was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 12th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign, opting instead to attend the University of Mississippi. He went on to become one of the top college pitchers in the country, a trajectory that led to the Cleveland Indians selecting him in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Indians on August 16, 2010, just before the deadline, on a contract that included a $2.65 million signing bonus, the largest bonus given to a college pitcher in that year’s draft.
Considered one of the top 50 prospects in baseball entering 2011, Pomeranz quickly reached the major leagues after being part of a trade that sent him to the Colorado Rockies in July 2011. That midseason move launched his big-league career and set the stage for a long journey through multiple organizations.
Drew Pomeranz Career
Early Career (2011-2013)
Drew Pomeranz made his Major League debut on September 11, 2011, starting against the Cincinnati Reds and pitching five scoreless innings to earn the win. He made four starts that September, finishing 1–2 with a 5.40 ERA after joining the Colorado Rockies in a trade for Ubaldo Jiménez. In 2012, Pomeranz split time between Triple-A and the Rockies rotation, making 22 starts despite a 2–9 record, and on May 7, 2012, he hit his first career home run.
The 2013 season was more difficult, as Pomeranz began the year in Triple-A and appeared in only eight games, four starts, for the Rockies. On December 10, 2013, he was traded, along with minor league pitcher Chris Jensen, to the Oakland Athletics for Brett Anderson, opening a new chapter on the West Coast.
Oakland Athletics Era (2014-2015)
Pomeranz began 2014 in the Oakland bullpen, going 1–1 with a 1.98 ERA over 13.2 innings in nine appearances before being moved into the starting rotation on May 9 to replace the struggling Dan Straily. He did not surrender a run in the rotation until his fourth start, on May 25, and later fractured his non-throwing hand after punching a wooden chair following a rough outing against the Texas Rangers on June 16. In his first season as an Athletic, Pomeranz posted a career-low 2.35 ERA across 20 games and 10 starts.
In 2015, Pomeranz shifted to a bullpen role while also making nine starts, appearing in a career-high 53 games and recording three saves over 86 innings. His increased workload set the stage for his next opportunity.
San Diego Padres Breakout (2016)
On December 2, 2015, the Athletics traded Pomeranz, José Torres, and a player to be named later or cash considerations to the San Diego Padres for Marc Rzepczynski and Yonder Alonso. After asking manager Andy Green for a chance to start, Pomeranz earned a spot in the Padres’ rotation and emerged as one of the National League’s top left-handers in the first half of 2016, posting a 2.47 ERA and leading the league with a .184 batting average against.
That performance earned him a selection to the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, the only All-Star nod of his career. During the All-Star break, the Padres traded him to the Boston Red Sox for highly regarded pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza.
Boston Red Sox Era (2016-2018)
Pomeranz pitched to a 4.59 ERA with a 3–5 record in 14 regular-season appearances for the Red Sox in 2016, including 13 starts, and led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage at 39.2 percent. In 2017, he turned in his best big-league season, going 17–6 with a 3.32 ERA across 32 starts, recording 174 strikeouts in 173.2 innings and again leading all major league pitchers in curveball percentage, this time at 37.0 percent. His postseason work that year was brief, as he took the loss in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros.
The 2018 season was marred by injuries. After beginning the year on the disabled list with a flexor strain, Pomeranz made his first start on April 20, and on June 5 he was placed on the disabled list again with left biceps tendinitis before being activated as a reliever on July 24. He finished the year 2–6 with a 6.08 ERA across 26 games. Although he was not initially on Boston’s postseason roster, he was added for the World Series in place of Brandon Workman. Pomeranz did not pitch in the Fall Classic, but the Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, making him a World Series champion for the first time.
San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers (2019)
On January 23, 2019, Pomeranz signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants worth $1.5 million, with up to $3.5 million available through incentives. He struggled to a 6.10 ERA across 17 starts and a 2–9 record before being moved to the bullpen on July 20. On July 31, 2019, the Giants traded him and Ray Black to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mauricio Dubon, capping a difficult 2019 campaign.
San Diego Padres Second Stint (2019-2023)
On November 27, 2019, Pomeranz signed a four-year contract with the San Diego Padres. He opened the shortened 2020 season with 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a three-run home run to Wilmer Flores of the San Francisco Giants on September 25. In 2021, he posted a 1.75 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 27 appearances, but on August 14, 2021, it was announced that he would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon.
Pomeranz spent 2022 and 2023 recovering from left elbow flexor tendon surgery, never appearing in a big-league game for San Diego during those years. He underwent an additional cleanup procedure on May 23, 2023, and a setback in his rehabilitation at Triple-A El Paso kept him out for the rest of the season. He became a free agent following 2023.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025)
On April 21, 2025, Pomeranz was traded to the Chicago Cubs after exercising the upward mobility clause in his contract, giving him one more shot in a National League organization. The trade reunited him with a contender and provided a familiar fresh start late in his career.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2025-Present)
On December 16, 2025, Pomeranz signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, bringing him back to the American League. The deal signals a clear opportunity to contribute out of the bullpen for an Angels club looking to add veteran left-handed depth. With a championship pedigree and a long track record of high curveball usage, Pomeranz enters this chapter aiming to stay healthy and provide late-inning stability.
Driving Style and Strengths
Drew Pomeranz is best known for his curveball-heavy approach, leading all major league pitchers in curveball percentage in both 2016 and 2017. His ability to spin the breaking ball and miss bats in volume made him a valuable starter during his peak seasons in Oakland and Boston.
Notable Events and Milestones
His signature moments include being named an MLB All-Star with the Padres in 2016, winning a career-high 17 games for the Red Sox in 2017, and earning a World Series ring with Boston in 2018. His opening run of 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings for the Padres in 2020 also stands out as a memorable stretch in his later career.
Drew Pomeranz Career Wins
Across his major league career, Drew Pomeranz has accumulated wins with the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox, with his most productive stretch coming during a 17-win 2017 season in Boston.
Major League Highlights
His win total has been driven primarily by his 2017 season, when he went 17–6 with a 3.32 ERA for the Red Sox, and by his 2014 work with the Athletics, when he posted a 2.35 ERA. He also delivered a strong 2021 campaign with the Padres, when he recorded a 1.75 ERA in 27 appearances out of the bullpen.
Other Wins & Performances
Pomeranz’s amateur résumé includes a 4–1 record, a 1.75 ERA, and 48 strikeouts at the 2009 World Baseball Challenge, where he helped pitch the United States Collegiate National Team to the championship. He also won the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy in 2010 as Mississippi’s top collegiate player.
Drew Pomeranz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Drew Pomeranz comes from a notable baseball family. His older brother, Stu Pomeranz, also played in MLB, and the two are great-grandsons of former professional football and baseball player Garland Buckeye. This makes Drew and Stu the second and third players in history to be great-grandsons of a former Major League player.
Personal Life
Drew Pomeranz married his longtime girlfriend, Carolyn Esserman, on November 19, 2016. He and his wife have one son and a daughter, and the family has been part of his journey across multiple organizations and cities.
2025 Season Performance
Drew Pomeranz’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between organizations. After signing a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in November 2024, he was released on March 23, 2025, re-signed on March 27, and made nine appearances for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, posting a 4.66 ERA with 14 strikeouts and two saves across 9.2 innings. On April 21, 2025, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs after exercising the upward mobility clause in his contract.
The midseason move gave Pomeranz another opportunity in a National League bullpen. Later, on December 16, 2025, he signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, setting up a return to the American League and a chance to contribute as a veteran left-hander for 2026.
For 2026, Pomeranz is expected to slot into the Angels’ bullpen with a defined role as a left-handed specialist or middle reliever. His curveball-heavy arsenal and experience in high-leverage spots should give the Angels a reliable option against left-handed hitters and in matchup-driven situations.