Prospect Notes, March 14, 2012

by John Sickels on Mar 14, 2026 1:00 PM EDT

Drew Pomeranz of the Colorado Rockies (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

**Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Drew Pomeranz left yesterday's game against the Dodgers early with "hip tightness." He's looked very good so far this spring, pitching seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts, two walks, and three hits allowed. He's still in the picture for a rotation spot in Colorado, but my guess is that he'll begin April pitching for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

**Lefty Matt Moore of the Tampa Bay Rays, the best pitching prospect in baseball, finally got his first spring game under his belt yesterday, throwing one and two-thirds innings against the Orioles, fanning three. He was slowed by an abdominal strain early in the spring but is still expected to be ready in time for the beginning of the regular season.

**He's not going to be around on Opening Day, but an intriguing player to watch this year is outfielder Zoilo Almonte of the New York Yankees. He is 4-for-10 in major league camp, and word from New York is that manager Joe Girardi has taken notice of him as a possible call-up for later in the season. Almonte is a 22-year-old switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic, signed in 2005. He had a fine season last year for High-A Tampa (.293/.368/.514 in 259 at-bats) but was less effective after moving up to Double-A Trenton (.251/.309/.377). However, he has a broad-based mixture of power and speed, hustles, and is clearly making an impression with the people who count. Keep an eye on him.

**Drew Cumberland of the San Diego Padres has seen a resurgence of his neurological condition and is retiring again. I don't know what else to say here, other than it is very unfortunate and I hope he's able to find a way to stay active in baseball. He was hampered by constant injuries even before being struck down by "bilateral vestibulopathy," but his makeup and hustle were always well-regarded.

Tweet Comment 38 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: Drew Cumberland (SS - SDP), Drew Pomeranz (P - COL), Zoilo Almonte (LF - NYY), Matt Moore (P - TAM), San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers

Comments

Sad to hear about Cumberland. It would have been interesting to see if he could translate some really good Cal League numbers into an impactful big league career.

My son, Adalberto Mejia. He's got the goods - he just needs a cool nickname.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Mar 14, 2026 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

+1

"On [umpire] Jeff Kellogg taking a foul tip to the groin: ‘Two balls, one strike.’"

by James Westfall on Mar 14, 2026 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Very disappointing indeed

I always liked his skillset. I thought he could put up pretty solid 8-12% BB and K rates, great speed, slightly above average D at SS, and maybe a little bit of power but we will never know. The first time he retired there were reports he wanted to scout or coach. It will be interesting to see if he can find success in some capacity.

John, did you do a crystal ball on him the first time he retired? Would be curious to see one if you haven’t but it isn’t a huge deal.

Thanks.

by jfish26101 on Mar 15, 2026 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think that your recollection of his SS defense is correct. He had already been moved to 2B before the first retirement, so even the Pads had conceded he would likely be a 2B by that point in his development.

My son, Adalberto Mejia. He's got the goods - he just needs a cool nickname.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Mar 15, 2026 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

As I remember, his issue was with routine throwing errors but he had the tools. I imagine his condition (which was not known at the time) was to blame. There are players with the tools to play plus positions but simply can’t (for varying reasons) but, typically speaking, I would go with the tools at such a young age. Yes I believe he could have been a slightly above average SS if they could have cured/controlled his condition as I think you could argue he still had a shot at SS with the condition (which, again, was undiagnosed at the time).

by jfish26101 on Mar 15, 2026 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I seem to remember he had a problem accidentally throwing cutters to first base.

by padmadfanman on Mar 15, 2026 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

COL

Good to see Pom bouncing back from his off season issue. Small deal in the grand scheme of things. Now if White can do the same (had a nice start last time out), COL could have a pretty good rotation when it’s all healthy.

by Mike Kaluk on Mar 14, 2026 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

Nats (Strasburg) v. Braves (Teheran) at 6 pm on MLBN, MLB.com, and MLB.tv

Randall Delgado will follow Teheran. As far as positional guys, Harper will hit sixth for the Nationals while Simmons is apparently leading off for the Braves. I don’t know about everyone else, but I can’t wait to see those matchups.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

I'm just tuning in.

Teheran just threw a pretty sweet curve.

by mr. maniac on Mar 14, 2026 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

Another good one for a DP to get out of the inning. Of the ~10 I’ve seen him throw thus far this spring, he’s only had one that wasn’t a good pitch. It’s not tight, and I assume hitters can pick it up quick because of the “hump”, but if he can keep it down consistently it’s a good third pitch.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I wasn't able to watch much, but I'll go back and watch in on MLB TV.

I was pretty impressed with what I saw. He looked better than when I’ve normally seen him.

by mr. maniac on Mar 14, 2026 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

The curve definitely was

I didn’t think the change was quite as good as what I saw in his last outing

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I've seen his changeup good before, so I'm not concerned about that.

by mr. maniac on Mar 14, 2026 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

If you can believe it, I think I'm more excited to see Simmons than Teheran

I think there’s still a small chance he breaks camp as the starter. If he doesn’t, I fully expect him to be up by June IF he puts up similar number in AA to his performance last year in high A.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, they'll give Pastornicky the entire season, barring an injury

Simmons will get a September call-up, then next year will be an interesting battle, especially if Pastornicky is productive this year.

by cookiedabookie on Mar 14, 2026 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Pastornicky

Is having a flat out ugly spring. It’s too soon to pull the plug on him as the 2012 starter, but he needs to improve. Right now he looks like he’d be a disaster. That said, Simmons definitely isn’t ready, even though I’m quite bullish on him so I think there’s a fairly good chance that Pastornicky gets the job no matter what, though I agree that Andrelton could make an appearance this summer.

by kyuss94 on Mar 14, 2026 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I really think that with the way Chipper has been talking up Simmons, the club is considering giving him the job.

On two occasions I’ve heard Chipper gush about Simmons, saying his defense was “major-league-ready”, and talking about how well he’s handling the bat and what a great kid he is. I have to think a little of that is coming down from the top, with Chipper being the face of the franchise and all.

by PissedMick on Mar 15, 2026 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Do you think that’s really a possibility? I know Andrelton Simmons has showed well, but wow.

by Matt0330 on Mar 16, 2026 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

I think there's a reason they've given Simmons plenty of time with Dan Uggla

All the buzz out of spring training has been about Simmons. He’s just different defensively. He was the first guy my father mentioned when he told me about what he saw when my brother and him went to at ST, and I have never mentioned him to my father before. I honestly think he would be more valuable than Pastornicky from the get go this season because he’s that much better than Pastornicky defensively. I think the only question is if you risk stunting his development by calling him up early.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Bryce Harper must despise Teheran's change

He’s seen 4 in his 2 ABs against Teheran between today’s game and the Futures game last year, everyone has been a strike, and he hasn’t even touched one of them.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

right now

Pomeranz is expected to make the rotation, likely slotted 3rd in the rotation. It would be shocking if he didn’t break camp with the team.

by mkorpal on Mar 14, 2026 3:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

+1

The hip tightness is supposed to be very minor, Im guessing one of those things he would of just pitched through if it was the reg season from the comments I read. Also I’d be surprised if he didn’t make the rotation from how he has looked and the things being said.

by hybrid on Mar 14, 2026 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think that it signifies anything about his delivery, but the pic of Pomeranz that fronts this post struck me as weird. I’ve never seen a pitcher that pronates his glove hand in that fingers pointing down at the ground position. Does anybody else think that’s odd?

My son, Adalberto Mejia. He's got the goods - he just needs a cool nickname.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Mar 15, 2026 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

Curious why you feel different John?

by RedHopeful on Mar 16, 2026 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

He’s a virtual lock I’d say. Juan Nicasio is bringing the ruckus this Spring too & that’s pleasing.

by Matt0330 on Mar 16, 2026 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Paul Clemens

He was highly impressive today- 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K.

There is some buzz that he could open the year in the Astros rotation, and though he’s probably a bit green for that at this point, I think I would like to see it.

by kyuss94 on Mar 14, 2026 6:39 PM EDT reply actions

I hope he works out for the Astros

He was always an interesting sleeper in the Braves system. I can definitely see him turning into something along the lines of a good #4 SP, which is obviously highly valuable during team controlled years.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I still don't know why people say only #4 starter

He was apparently hitting 96-97mph today with good movement. I see middle rotation upside for sure.

http://www.crawfishboxes.com

by OremLK on Mar 14, 2026 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

It's certainly possible

It would just take everything breaking just right. He’d need to improve both his command and his secondaries.

by nixa37 on Mar 14, 2026 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

My mistake

No walks, not 2, making his day even more impressive. In his 3rd inning of work, he allowed a leadoff double then the runner advanced to 3rd on a groundout before he ended the inning with two straight punchouts.

by kyuss94 on Mar 14, 2026 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

"Hip Tightness"

I wonder if Pomeranz is a runner? ITBS is a pretty widespread scourge of those of us that like to get our cardio in with a sprint.

Pain and stiffness are the two most common symptoms. Pain on the lateral side of the knee is another symptom, but it doesn’t always present.

Of course he could just have a case of Hip Tendonitis or Bursitis I guess.

by CoolCat23 on Mar 14, 2026 7:47 PM EDT reply actions

Run barefoot. Preferably in the sand. You’ll see a vast improvement.

My son, Adalberto Mejia. He's got the goods - he just needs a cool nickname.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Mar 15, 2026 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

could also be a labrum tear in the hip

by pedrophile on Mar 15, 2026 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't know if anyone's mentioned Tigers shutting Turner down

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shoulder-woes-shelve-tigers-prospect-jacob-turner/

by JayTeam on Mar 14, 2026 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Eww

sucks

Twitter
Buried Treasure - Top 20 Prospects
Buried Treasure - MLB Draft: The Youngin's

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Mar 15, 2026 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Pomeranz

watching those two innings was impressive, hit the corners, he did miss some time but when he did he missed out of the zone, didnt give the dodgers anything to hit, I was impressed

by Noah McKinnie Braun on Mar 14, 2026 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

I believe Cashman was reluctant to include Almonte in trade talks last summer, which was the first indication of the organization’s fondness of him.

by GogoPlatter on Mar 14, 2026 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

I was at the game yesterday that Moore threw in.

He looked awesome. I was down by the bullpen when he was warming up, man does he throw hard! According to the stadium gun, his fastball ranged anywhere from 93-97 easy and he threw some nasty offspeed pitches. He fooled Adam Jones by starting him 0-2 with 2 offspeed pitches and then blowing 97 right by him. He also made Chris Davis fall over twice at 2 high and in fastballs, the 2nd one getting him to swing for the K. I was glad I was able to see him live.

No matter how much they are hyped, my teams always find a way to disappoint.
The faster Dwight Howard is traded, the better.
Morris Claiborne>Trent Richardson

by thedudeofdudes on Mar 14, 2026 10:59 PM EDT reply actions