Shortly after trading Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd told the team website reporter both of the two former first-round picks they received from the Cleveland Indians in return could be a part of the big league rotation by the end of the season. While Alex White already has seen major league time with the Indians, it would be a quick ascent for Drew Pomeranz, who technically isn't even with the Rockies yet.

According to major league rules, Pomeranz, a 2010 draft pick, can't officially be dealt to a new team until he has been a pro for at least a year. His one-year anniversary date is Aug. 15, and he'll join the Rockies' organization then and resume his quick move up the ladder. In his pro-debut season, the fifth overall selection has fanned 112 batters and walked 38 with a sub-2.00 ERA in 18 starts, most of them coming at high-A.The 22-year-old is a big 6-foot-5 southpaw with a durable, workhorse-type frame. I've seen him in short stints on three separate occasions this season, and it appears he works with two-seam fastballs in the low 90s but can dial up his four-seamer to the 93-95 mph range, carrying that velocity deep into games with some arm-side run. His money offering, however, is a high-70s 12-to-6 curveball that he sells very well; it'll someday be a major league out pitch. He didn't need to use his circle-change much in college, but the pitch has developed this year to become at least an average offering -- he's getting some fade on it -- and make him more of a true three-pitch guy. Pomeranz worked on it a lot early in the season, and as he told me a few weeks ago, "I think I've got a pretty good feel for it right now."The biggest issue for Pomeranz right now is having more consistent command, especially finding a consistent release point to help him locate his fastball. At times he'll open his front side too early -- which causes the heater to sail -- fight his delivery and lack rhythm, leaving him trying to figure out his arm action. While the Indians worked with him to make that action not as long and stiff, Pomeranz has told me that his arm action has gotten just a little too short for his liking at times.While he still has some kinks to work out with his delivery, Pomeranz has the raw stuff to be a No. 2 starter in the big leagues if he can sharpen his command. If he can't, he'll likely settle in a touch below that. Either way, he has the arm and repertoire you like to take a chance on, and looms as an NL sleeper for 2012.

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