Drew Pomeranz – San Diego Padres
After years spent as a top prospect in the Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies organizations and a two-year stint bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen in Oakland, Pomeranz is finally putting all together for the Padres at the age of 27.
Pomeranz, who made 53 appearances for the A’s in 2015, is making a mockery of his career averages this season, and beginning to perform the way a former fifth overall pick in the draft is expected to.
Despite the abysmal state of the San Diego offense, Pomeranz is 4-4 with a 1.96 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and 1.2 fWAR. That ERA is ninth among MLB pitchers, and along with his ninth-ranked 10.96 strikeouts per nine and 16th-ranked 2.87 FIP, is evidence that the lefty may well end up being the host city’s lone all-star in 2016.
Next: Another young arm from Philadelphia