DENVER—Drew Pomeranz thought his season was over when he had an emergency appendectomy. Three weeks later he will make his major league debut with the Colorado Rockies.
Pomeranz will get his much-anticipated career under way when he starts against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. He was one of four players Colorado acquired from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Ubaldo Jimenez on July 31, and the left-hander was considered the key piece for the Rockies to make the deal.
“We’ve gotten rave reviews about what the organization has seen up until this point,” manager Jim Tracy said.
Pomeranz, the fifth pick in the 2010 draft out of the University of Mississippi, is in his first year of pro ball. He thought it was going to be an abbreviated one when he had to have his appendix removed on Aug. 20.
“I was kind of bummed,” he said. “But the surgeon came in there and said it was really not a big deal. He poked three little holes. They didn’t have to do like in the old days when they had to cut you open. The next day I hopped right out of bed and walked down to the car. I felt pretty confident once I could do that.”
He was originally the player to be named later and didn’t officially join the Rockies in mid-August. On Monday, he pitched three perfect innings for Double-A Tulsa and the Rockies tabbed him to make his first career start.
“I love the opportunity they give me. I don’t know where I would be if I were still with the Indians at this point,” he said. “Being involved in that trade, they wanted me to be over here. Now they’re giving me a great opportunity to go out there and show what I’ve got.”
Pomeranz, 22, has started just two games in the Rockies organization. He has pitched 10 innings and hasn’t given up a run while striking out 10.
“I felt pretty good when I threw,” he said. “I didn’t expect to really be as sharp, but I went out there and threw strikes. I felt better than I did before, honestly. I had so much time off, I should feel good. It’s healed up real nice. It’s nice to be back out there after all that layoff time.”
With the Rockies out of contention they felt the time was right to bring up Pomeranz.
“Sunday he gets to find out that there’s a little bit of a difference between facing hitters in the Texas League and facing hitters in the major leagues,” Tracy said.
Pomeranz will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. Tracy said he will be on a pitch count for Sunday’s start, but that doesn’t bother the lefty.
“I’m pretty anxious,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for opportunities to pitch since I hadn’t been able to. Obviously, getting a start in the big leagues is even better. So I’m really pumped up about it.”
