Padres left-hander Drew Pomeranz underwent “a cleanup surgery in his elbow” yesterday, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, relaying word from manager Bob Melvin. It’s unknown how long this will keep him out of action but the skipper says they are still hopeful for him to return later in the season.
Although Melvin seems to be trying to downplay the procedure, which might well be minor, it’s notable that the lefty’s health is at the forefront yet again. Pomeranz is creeping up on two years since his last major league appearance, which was in August of 2021. It was at that point that he required surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm. He was able to begin a rehab assignment one year after that procedure, heading out in August of last year. However, he was shut down due to continued soreness and missed the entire 2022 campaign.
Here in 2023, the club was optimistic about his return but he experienced more inflammation in Spring Training and began the season on the injured list. He began another rehab assignment in the middle of April but was shut down yet again after three appearances and transferred to the 60-day injured list.
It’s surely been a frustrating series of events for both Pomeranz and the team. After spending many years as a starter with mixed results, the southpaw seemed to thrive in a move to full-time relief work. In 2019, he had a 5.68 ERA with the Giants, working primarily out of the rotation. He was traded at the deadline to the Brewers who used him exclusively as a reliever, apart from one three-inning start. He had a 2.39 ERA with Milwaukee, striking out an incredible 45% of batters faced.
He reached free agency and the Padres took a chance on that bullpen breakout, signing Pomeranz to a four-year deal that guaranteed him $34MM. The gamble seemed to be paying off for a while, as he posted a combined 1.62 ERA between his 20 appearances in the shortened 2020 season and another 27 the year after. He walked 11.4% of batters faced in that time but stuck out 33.7% and also got grounders at a 45.8% rate.
Unfortunately, the latter half of the deal has been entirely wasted thus far, with Pomeranz missing the 2022 season and all of 2023 to this point. The Padres aren’t in desperate shape in terms of left-handed relief, as each of Josh Hader, Tim Hill and Tom Cosgrove are posting decent results to varying degrees. Nonetheless, it would surely be a welcome development if this recent procedure was able to help Pomeranz finally get over his ongoing arm troubles and get back into form. He’s making a salary of $8MM this year and is a free agent at season’s end.
Pomz down everyone
We need a “clean up ” in BB, This amount of injuries in BB is ridiculous. We’ve been reduced to making jokes (including me) but something is seriously wrong. Wake up Manfart
I’m fairly certain there are many factors contributing to all the arm injuries for Pitchers. But it seems to me one of the biggest is something completely out of MLB control, year around pitching in the form of travel baseball.
I think the reason so many Pitchers break down is due to them throwing far more innings/pitches in a year during their early to mid teens than any organization would allow their professional Pitchers to throw.
Until parents stand up to these travel ball coaches, and some HS coaches, and demand they not be overused, this issue will not improve.
A few years back, my local HS had a Pitcher who was good enough to be drafted by the Red Sox. I went to one of his starts against a big rival, and witnessed his dad yell at his son to tell the Coach he was done because he had already thrown 117 pitches. It came as no surprise to me within a couple years of being drafted, he had to have TJ surgery.
Injuries to pitchers are up 12% this year. That’s a huge jump over the previous record.
If it was about travel ball this season, then the increase would be gradual.
MLB is travel ball, also frowns upon any of their guys playing other sports, and has lots of Tommy John victims.
It all fits.
105 is now the limit for varsity high school baseball. Has been for a few years. My issue with travel ball is kids throwing 50 pitches on Saturday and then a 100-120 on Sunday. High school and most leagues don’t allow that kinda abuse anymore.
It’s no secret that evolution is rapid in the species. And as we move further away from hunting/gathering activities that require strong shoulder, elbow and wrist joint development, the next generations of arms will be weak and limp appendages that act to merely support the emergence of narrow pencil-like fingers adept at poking iphones rather than throwing cut fastballs. MLB needs to adjust.
The further we get from hunting/gathering the harder guys throw. You think a cave man could hit triple digits?
You bet they did.
Guys like Abe Lincoln and Daniel Boone brought serious heat. Rabbits and squirrels weren’t jumping into those cooking pots on their own, you know.
Rail-splitting plus throwing those 9 million rocks to feed their families really built up the arm.
When hunting for food, warfare, or pitching to big-leaguers, accuracy trumps speed.
Ask David. Or the Philistines.
By the way, both the baseball Boones and actor Richard Boone are/were descendants of Danny Boone. Which explains why Aaron Boone is a savage in that dugout.
There’s so many things that MLB can’t just say “Okay, we’re implementing this” and it be a one and done solution. Like Scott K said, it’s year around pitching from a young age. Let’s say I kept with baseball. Kid pitch started when I was 10. If I had kept playing throughout middle school, high school, college and planned on going pro, I would have had nearly 13 years on my arm by the time I went pro. MLB can’t regulate how often/how much kids play year around.
@Curly yeah we definitely need a baseball (BB) cleanup. Let’s call it BBC. Then maybe to further clarify we can call it the National Sports Federation for Wellness or NSFW.
I actually just created the website! Check it out!!! Just Google BBC NSFW and see. Show the whole family and your coworkers.
A guy who’s been injured for three years and most of his career isn’t the best example of an injury problem in baseball this year. Seems like it’s still the majority of the guys who are routinely banged up going on the shelf as opposed to the steadier guys.
More AJ Preller greatness
2020 and 2021 – he more than earned his paycheck.
2022 and 2023 – insurance is paying the tab like all injured big contracts.
Lastly, how does one go about being able to predict injuries like this?
Go troll somewhere else.
He pitched in 27 games in 2021 – that’s not earning your paycheck. You Padre “fans” need to realize that the Padres are overrated and Preller has no clue how to build a team. 250 million payroll and Kim batted 2nd the other day!
Hey hey hey, don’t lump all padre fans together
Preller knows how to upset you clearly. Angry mad and frustrated is no way to go through life kiddo.
You should put down your phone and get out of the house and go for a walk.
Jung, I was thinking the same thing. So much hostility…be kewl, man.
Grave site? Well that was kind of you. Hope you were considerate and left flowers or something.
You’re spot on Dood. Stevie Wonder, or any knowledgeable baseball fan could see the flaws in the roster AJ put together. But, Pobres ‘fans’, as you expertly put in quotations, are just happy to get some recognition for winning anything. Even if it’s just the offseason.
If your mother has truly passed, then I am sorry for my comment. Best wishes. Go Dodgers
Hope you’re beautiful mama is doing well.
Would be great to have him on the mound. Looks like it continues to be a ‘wait and see’ approach. Hopefully this procedure does the trick…
When has he ever been healthy? So much potential just wasted on the IL.
I guess that’s why he went to Ole Miss.
I cannot recall when this guy was ever healthy and actually pitching regularly. He must have impressed some people back in the day because there always seems to be hope that his return is imminent and good things will happen. Yet that day never arrives, time goes by, and then I wonder if this guy was any good in the first place ?? Lost in the fog of time.
He had some pretty good years in the mid-late 2010s, first as a swingman starter/reliever then primarily as a SP. Though since 2018 he hasn’t been ale to stay healthy and productive for a full season, unless you count 2020.
He was the prize prospect the Rockies got when they traded Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. Never had any success in Colorado, but Ubaldo was disappointing in Cleveland so I guess both teams lost that trade.
I guess at least Cleveland got one productive season in 2013 out of Jimenez. Pomeranz did nothing in Colorado before being traded to the A’s for Brett Anderson, who did decent in Colorado for the very few games he plyaed there.
The year is 2050. Fernando Tatis IV has just won AL Rookie of the Year as a member of the Charlotte Rays, the Manny Machado statue is in progress outside Petco Park and the Padres are still waiting for Drew Pomeranz to come off the IL.
Another high salary bust for the padres
Guy is making $8.5 million AAV. That is not a high salary.
I keep saying he will never pitch again and he keeps me honest.
“Cleanup” procedure just makes it sound like they got some DUI convicts doing their public service hours to pick up trash from his elbow.
Arthroscopic shave of bone spur
Hopefully he does NOT make it back this season so the Padres can at least collect on his insurance. If he does come back after all this time away there is no way he can be effective. Just end the season on the IL. Best thing for the team.
This guys just stealing money at this point
He was a solid lefty reliever for a minute… At one point he was being considered for the closer role.