Drew Pomeranz Bio
Thomas Andrew Pomeranz, nicknamed “Big Smooth,” is an American professional baseball pitcher. He currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels, having signed with the club in December 2025 on a one-year, $4 million contract. Across his MLB career, Pomeranz has pitched for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs. He is a former MLB All-Star and a World Series champion.
Born on November 22, 1988, in Collierville, Tennessee, Pomeranz was originally a first-round selection in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He has built a career as a reliable left-handed arm, transitioning between starting and relief roles while establishing himself as a respected veteran presence in clubhouses across the league. His nickname, “Big Smooth,” reflects both his physical presence and his laid-back demeanor on the mound.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Andrew Pomeranz was born on November 22, 1988, and grew up in Collierville, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis. He came from an athletic family with a deep connection to professional sports. Both Pomeranz and his older brother Stu, who also played in MLB, are great-grandsons of Garland Buckeye, a former professional football and baseball player. This family heritage made Drew and Stu the second and third players in history to be great-grandsons of a former Major League player.
As a high school pitcher, Pomeranz drew significant attention from college recruiters. He was selected in the 12th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, but he declined to sign, choosing instead to develop his skills at the collegiate level. He received scholarship offers from Tennessee, Memphis, and Mississippi State, and was also recruited by LSU and Alabama before ultimately committing to the University of Mississippi.
Path to Professional Baseball
At the University of Mississippi, Pomeranz quickly established himself as one of the top college pitchers in the nation. He represented the United States Collegiate National Team at the 2009 World Baseball Challenge, pitching a one-hitter in the championship game against the German national baseball team. He finished the tournament with a 4–1 record, a 1.75 earned run average (ERA), and a team-leading 48 strikeouts. The following year, he was named the recipient of the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy, awarded annually to Mississippi’s top collegiate baseball player.
His standout college performance led to his selection in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Pomeranz signed with the Indians on August 16, 2010, just before the deadline, receiving a $2.65 million signing bonus, the largest given to a college pitcher in that year’s draft. He was considered one of the top 50 prospects in baseball heading into the 2011 season.
Drew Pomeranz Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Pomeranz made his MLB debut on September 11, 2011, starting and pitching five scoreless innings to pick up the win against the Cincinnati Reds. He made four starts that September, finishing 1–2 with a 5.40 ERA. On July 31, 2011, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies as part of a package for Ubaldo Jiménez. With the Rockies, he split time between Triple-A and the majors, making 22 starts in 2012 despite a 2–9 record. The 2013 season saw him spend most of the year in the minors, appearing in just 8 games for Colorado.
On December 10, 2013, Pomeranz was traded to the Oakland Athletics along with minor league pitcher Chris Jensen in exchange for Brett Anderson. In Oakland, he found new life, beginning 2014 in the bullpen before moving into the rotation. He posted a career-low 2.35 ERA in his first season with the A’s, though his progress was interrupted when he fractured his non-throwing hand by punching a wooden chair after a rough outing against the Rangers.
San Diego Padres Breakthrough (2016)
Traded to the San Diego Padres in December 2015, Pomeranz approached new manager Andy Green about getting a chance to start, and he earned a spot in the rotation. His strong first half, which included a 2.47 ERA and a National League-leading .184 batting average against, earned him a selection to the 2016 MLB All-Star Game. It marked his first and only All-Star appearance.
Boston Red Sox Era (2016–2018)
During the 2016 All-Star break, the Padres traded Pomeranz to the Boston Red Sox for top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza. While his 2016 regular season numbers with Boston were modest, he led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage that year at 39.2%. In 2017, Pomeranz had his best season, going 17–6 with a 3.32 ERA across 32 starts, striking out 174 batters in 173⅔ innings and once again leading the majors in curveball percentage.
The 2018 season was a difficult one for Pomeranz, as injuries limited him to 26 games and an 11-start campaign. 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 defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, making him a World Series champion for the first time in his career.
San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers (2019)
Pomeranz signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants in January 2019 worth $1.5 million with up to $3.5 million in incentives. He struggled to a 6.10 ERA in 17 starts and was moved to the bullpen in July. On July 31, 2019, the Giants traded him and Ray Black to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mauricio Dubon.
Second Stint with San Diego Padres (2020–2023)
In November 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 a late-season hiccup. In 2021, he posted a 1.75 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 27 appearances, but the year ended with season-ending surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon. Recovery from that surgery and a follow-up procedure kept him off the mound throughout 2022 and 2023, and he became a free agent after the 2023 season.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2026–Present)
On December 16, 2025, Pomeranz signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He made 25 relief appearances for the club, compiling a 0–3 record and a 5.01 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 23⅓ innings pitched. On June 15, 2026, Pomeranz was designated for assignment by the Angels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pomeranz’s career is highlighted by his 2016 All-Star selection with the Padres and his 2018 World Series championship with the Red Sox. He led all major league pitchers in curveball percentage in both 2016 and 2017, and his best statistical season came in 2017, when he went 17–6 with a 3.32 ERA for Boston. His family connection to Garland Buckeye places him in a rare piece of MLB history as a great-grandson of a former Major League player.
Drew Pomeranz Career Highlights
Throughout his MLB career, Drew Pomeranz has built a reputation as a dependable left-handed pitcher capable of succeeding in both starting and relief roles. His tenure includes stops with eight different MLB organizations, highlighted by an All-Star selection in 2016 and a World Series ring in 2018.
All-Star and World Series Honors
Pomeranz’s lone All-Star appearance came in 2016 with the San Diego Padres, capping a dominant first half. He joined the Boston Red Sox midseason and later earned a World Series championship in 2018, even though he did not appear in the Fall Classic itself.
Drew Pomeranz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pomeranz’s family has deep roots in professional sports. His older brother, Stu Pomeranz, also played in Major League Baseball. The brothers are great-grandsons of Garland Buckeye, who played both professional football and professional baseball, making Drew and Stu just the second and third players in MLB history to be great-grandsons of a former Major League player.
Personal Life
Pomeranz married his longtime girlfriend, Carolyn Esserman, on November 19, 2016. The couple has one son and a daughter. Outside of baseball, Pomeranz is widely known by his nickname, “Big Smooth,” a moniker that has followed him throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
After spending 2024 bouncing between minor league deals with the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners, Pomeranz found stability in 2025. He began the year in the Seattle Mariners organization before exercising an upward mobility clause in his contract. On April 21, 2025, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he settled into a meaningful relief role.
With the Cubs in 2025, Pomeranz made 57 appearances, posting a 2–2 record and a strong 2.17 ERA. He recorded 57 strikeouts and one save across 49⅔ innings pitched, providing a steady left-handed presence in the Chicago bullpen. His performance helped stabilize a Cubs relief corps in need of veteran experience.
Following the 2025 season, Pomeranz entered free agency and signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels on December 16, 2025. The deal represented a fresh start on the West Coast, where he transitioned into a middle-relief role during the early portion of the 2026 season.
