The Rockies have designated catcher Matt Pagnozzi for assignment and transferred Ryan Spilborghs to the 60-day disabled list to create roster space for infielder Thomas Field and lefty Drew Pomeranz, according to a team press release.
Pomeranz was acquired as the player to be named later in this summer's Ubaldo Jimenez trade with the Indians. The 21-year-old was selected fifth overall in 2010, and posted a sparkling 1.78 ERA with a 10.6 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 through 101 minor league innings between Class-A Advanced and Double-A. He entered the season ranked 61st by Baseball America among MLB prospects, and a dominant pro ball debut has only raised that stock.
Pagnozzi, 28, hit .275/.337/.421 in 198 Triple-A plate appearances in 2011. He also went 6-for-21 in a brief Major League stint with the Rockies, his third taste of big league action. Pagnozzi also got 49 plate appearances from 2009-10 with the Cardinals. An eighth round selection by St. Louis, Pagnozzi was released and signed a minor league deal with the Rockies this past offseason.
The Indians will rue the day they traded this young man. He could become the left handed version of John Smoltz that the Tigers gave up for Doyle Alexander. At least Detroit won the division that year; the Indians won’t win anything.