Brooks Pounders made his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2016, but only notched a 9.24 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched working out of the bullpen. However, Pounders did whiff an encouraging 9.2 batters per nine along with a solid 2.1 BB/9. The six home runs he surrendered in a mere 12.2 innings is what drove his poor ERA.
Though he was a reliever with Kansas City, Pounders started seven games for Omaha and posted an excellent 3.14 ERA in 80.1 innings for AAA Omaha. Pounders missed bats with a 10.1 K/9 in the Pacific Coast League last season, but young arms like Matt Strahm, Josh Staumont, Eric Stout, and Eric Skoglund surpassed him within the KC Royals system.