Draft 2010: More room for Pomeranz?
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Mississippi pitcher Drew Pomeranz.
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HOOVER, Ala. -- Conspiracy theorists might suggest that the Pirates have been preparing for Monday's second-overall pick since the draft a year ago.
That's when they selected and signed both of Drew Pomeranz's University of Mississippi roommates.
Just trying to make the big left-hander happy, right?
"He's a bulldog," said Phillip Irwin, the Pirates' 21st-round choice in the 2009 draft. He was preceded in the fifth round by Rebels roommate Nathan Baker, who pitches with him on the Class A West Virginia Power. "He's a huge competitor. He wants to beat everybody in everything, no matter what the cost. He's never-say-die. It's kind of funny ..."
No, all those plaudits weren't what struck Irwin as kind of humorous. Rather, it was the memory of the NCAA regional in Oxford, Miss., last spring, when Pomeranz -- a 6-foot-5, 231-pound left-hander now considered Top-5 draft material -- pitched twice in three days. Pitched amazingly, too.
"Last year in the regional, when he had his start against Western Kentucky" on two days' rest after a one-run, eight-inning, 10-strikeout defeat of Monmouth, began Irwin, "I talked to him before the game ...
" 'Hey, man, I know it's short rest. Do what you can, give us four innings.'
" 'I'm going nine,' Pomeranz said. 'I'm throwing a complete game.'
"I'm like, 'You got to be kidding me.' He went out and threw a complete game [and struck out a school-record 16 in another victory allowing just one run]. We ended up winning the regional.
"He backs up what he says, which is the most frustrating part. All the smack talk we do, with nothing to show for it ..."
Pomeranz's baseball journey started in the Memphis suburb of Collierville, Tenn., about 55 miles north of Oxford's famed Grove. It all started with roommates of a different stripe:
• Older brother Stuart, a 2003 second-round selection trying to restart his career this year in Class AA Tulsa;
• Father Mike, a two-time all-Southeastern Conference third baseman and four-year Mississippi letterman;
• And an occasional guest, his uncle Pat, a former four-year letterman and strong-armed Rebels outfielder.
See, baseball is a Pomeranz birthright. It didn't hurt, either, that Mike taught his sons a special pitch: a knucklecurve, one that puts less torque on the arm and wrist. That curve got Drew a spot as a 12th-round pick in 2007 with Texas. At the advice of his big brother -- Stuart is 6-7 -- and dad, he opted for Mississippi.
He was a freshman All-American in 2008, was 8-4 with a 3.40 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 951/3 innings as a sophomore and was the best pitcher in college baseball most of this season. Take Baseball America's word for it: They named him their midseason player of the year. Take the SEC's word for it: They named him their conference pitcher of the year -- ahead of another expected Top-20 selection, LSU's Anthony Ranaudo.
First Published June 3, 2010 12:00 am
