The University of Mississippi Athletics
Pomeranz Inks With Cleveland; Six Drafted Signees Choose Rebels
8/17/2010 | Baseball
Aug. 17, 2010
OXFORD, Miss.- Left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, the 2010 SEC Pitcher of the Year and All-American from Ole Miss, signed with the Cleveland Indians organization on Monday after becoming the highest draft pick in school history in June.
The left-hander from Collierville, Tenn., was selected fifth overall in the 2010 MLB Draft on June 7 by the Indians to become the highest of the 58 draft picks in the Mike Bianco era at Ole Miss.
Pomeranz signed for a reported $2.65 million as the top player selected by Cleveland and highest draft pick by the Indians since 1992 when the organization drafted Paul Shuey with the second pick.
The left-handed hurler pulled in the honors as a junior in 2010, garnering first team All-America status from several publications and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Trophy and the National Pitcher of the Year. He helped the Rebels to a 39-25 record and an eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Pomeranz also set the career strikeout mark with 344. His 139 strikeouts as a junior was second on the single season list as he compiled a 9-2 record with a 2.44 ERA in his final campaign with the Rebels.
"I'm very excited and proud today for Drew to start his professional baseball career," Bianco said. "I know it's fulfilling a goal and dream of his. The neat thing is that he got to have his cake and eat it too. He had the opportunity to play professional ball three years ago and chose to come to college, get an education and play baseball at Ole Miss in the best baseball conference in the country. Because of that experience, he's even more prepared now to begin his career in professional baseball."
In other draft news, six of eight players who were signed by the Rebels as a part of the 2010 recruiting class opted for a career at Ole Miss rather than signing with their respective clubs that selected them in the 2010 MLB Draft.
Pitchers R.J. Hively (New York Yankees), Weston Hoekel (Boston), Bobby Wahl (Cleveland) and Austin Wright (Boston), catcher Will Allen (Pittsburgh), and third baseman Preston Overbey (Tampa Bay) all passed on the option to sign in favor of playing the 2011 season at Ole Miss.
Two signees, Ryan Bolden (Anaheim) and Les Smith (Detroit) signed with the professional clubs prior to the signing deadline.
"Now that the deadline has passed we're even more excited about this incoming recruiting class. We had eight signees drafted and six of them are coming to campus. We have four drafted pitchers who are all very talented athletes. You expect junior college guys like Austin and R.J. to make an immediate impact as well as both high school pitchers in Bobby and Weston.
"The two freshman position players are both physical athletes who are middle of the lineup type hitters. We expect both to push for playing time and are excited to get them on campus and in the program."
Players report to campus this weekend before classes begin on Monday, Aug. 23.