Drew Pomeranz Has No Retirement Plans Just Yet

While Drew Pomeranz hasn’t appeared in a major league game since the 2021 season, he has no plans for retiring any time soon.

In May, Pomeranz had arthroscopic elbow surgery to clean out the “junk in there from keeping my elbow working right,” he said.

Last Friday, Pomeranz returned to Petco Park to begin a throwing program. He is at least a week from the beginning of throwing bullpen sessions. After that, he will work towards having a rehab assignment.

Pomeranz said he is “nowhere near done. I’m determined to get back to where I was. There’s still time left.”

At 34, Pomeranz has had most of his major league career behind him. He has played for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and Padres. In 289 games, he had 140 starts, 48 wins, 58 losses, and a 3.91 ERA.

Before the 2021 season, Pomeranz was a serviceable journeyman pitcher. In August 2021, he underwent right flexor tendon surgery. He spent most of the 2022 season rehabbing from the surgery. Then, he had left flexor tendon surgery.

During spring training, manager Bob Melvin called Pomeranz a “wild card” if he could help the Padres’ bullpen during the 2023 season. As a reliever, he dominated the opposition. Pomeranz could strike out a batter in a crucial situation.

With his difficult rehab process, Pomeranz’s incredible desire to return as a major league pitcher should be applauded. Baseball fans everywhere should root for Pomeranz to be successful.