Brett Daniel Tomko (born April 7, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals.
Tomko was born in Euclid, Ohio, but moved to southern California when he was three years old. He attended El Dorado High School in Placentia, California, and was a letter winner in basketball and baseball. El Dorado has since retired his #20 uniform number. Tomko was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.
Tomko attended college at Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut, California) in 1994. He then transferred to Florida Southern College for one season in 1995. At Florida Southern, Tomko led the team to the NCAA Division II National Championship against Georgia College. He went 15–2 with a 1.35 ERA and struck out 154 batters in 126.3 innings that season, with opponents hitting just .180 against him. He pitched two complete game shutouts in the Championship Series, including one in the final game, earning him the Tournament's "outstanding player" award. In addition, he won both the NCAA Division II Pitcher and Player of the Year Awards by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
In 2014, the NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year Award was renamed the Brett Tomko Award in his honor. His uniform number, #35, has since been retired by Florida Southern.
Tomko was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round, with the 54th overall selection, of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft; he signed with the team on June 28, 1995. He moved quickly through the Reds minor league system, debuting for the Charleston AlleyCats in Single-A that same year and pitching to a 1.89 ERA in nine games. In 1996, Baseball America named him the Reds' fifth best prospect. He moved to Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts and held a 3.88 ERA with 164 strikeouts in 157+2⁄3 innings. In 1997, Tomko was considered the Reds' top prospect by Baseball America. He moved up to Triple-A, pitching to a 2.95 ERA in 10 starts for the Indianapolis Indians, before getting called up to the Major Leagues.
Tomko made his Major League debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 27, 1997. He pitched six innings and gave up two runs while taking the loss in the Reds 2–1 defeat. He got his first victory in his next start on June 6, against the New York Mets. He pitched six innings, gave up one run and struck out seven, while also driving in the go-ahead run for his first MLB hit, in the Reds 5–2 victory. That year, Tomko finished with an 11–7 record and a 3.43 ERA in 126 innings. He was third on the team in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 3.0. He finished seventh in the voting for the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year award.
Tomko followed up on his rookie season by going 13–12 with a 4.44 ERA while leading the team with 210+2⁄3 innings pitched in 1998. In 1999, Tomko left spring training as the Reds no. 3 starter. However, he was briefly demoted to the minors after allowing 23 earned runs on 32 hits in his first five starts. He finished the year with a 4.92 ERA in 172 innings, finishing the season out in the bullpen.
On February 10, 2000, Tomko was traded to the Seattle Mariners, along with Mike Cameron, Antonio Pérez, and Jake Meyer for Ken Griffey Jr. Tomko did not make the team out of spring training that year, due to dealing with a sore Achilles tendon. Tomko made his Mariners debut on April 22, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven in six innings of work. In June, he was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. When he returned, Tomko was used out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.
Tomko's 2001 season started off poorly after pitching to a 5.97 ERA in nine appearances in the rotation and bullpen. He was demoted to Triple-A on May 20. Tomko threw a no-hitter for the Tacoma Rainiers on July 3. During his time in Tacoma, he learned to throw a sinker. When rosters expanded in September, he asked to stay with the team during their playoff push rather than return to the majors. He did not return to the Mariners until September 14.
On December 11, 2001, the Mariners traded Tomko (along with Ramón Vázquez, Tom Lampkin, and cash) to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Ben Davis, Wascar Serrano, and Alex Arias. Tomko returned to the starting rotation for the 2002 season, making 32 starts and pitching to a 4.49 ERA in 204+1⁄3 innings.
On December 15, 2002, Tomko was traded again, almost exactly a year later to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Mike Wodnicki and Luther Hackman. Tomko won 13 games in his only season in St. Louis, despite a 5.28 ERA in 202+2⁄3 innings of work. He also led the NL in hits and earned runs allowed.
On January 9, 2004, Tomko signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent. The deal included an option for the 2005 season as well. The first few months of the season went poorly for Tomko. He pitched to a 5.86 ERA in 12 starts through June 7, when he left in the fifth inning with an injury. He was later placed on the disabled list with elbow inflammation. After returning on June 24, he managed a 3.09 ERA in 128 innings to finish out the year. On August 26, he pitched a complete game shutout against the Florida Marlins. Tomko had a similar 2005 season, compiling a 4.48 ERA in 190+2⁄3 innings.
On December 21, 2005, Tomko agreed to a two-year, $8.7 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tomko pitched to a 5.12 ERA in 15 starts for the Dodgers in 2005 before hitting the disabled list with an oblique injury. When he returned in late July, he was relegated to the bullpen for the rest of the season. He managed a 3.64 ERA in 29+2⁄3 innings as a late-inning reliever.
In 2007, Tomko pitched both as a starter and a reliever during the season. He had a 5.80 ERA in 104 innings for the Dodgers. On August 24, he was designated for assignment by Los Angeles. During his time with the Dodgers, Tomko's poor pitching and propensity to give up home runs led to Dodger fans giving him the nickname "Bombko".
San Diego Padres (second stint)
After being released by the Dodgers, Tomko signed with the San Diego Padres on September 4, 2007. Because of when he signed with the team, Tomko was ineligible for the playoffs. He allowed 14 runs on 25 hits in 27+1⁄3 innings between the bullpen and rotation down the stretch.
Tomko started the last game of the season, with the Padres needing a win to clinch the NL Wild Card. He ultimately surrendered five runs in 4+1⁄3 innings in what was an eventual 11–6 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers. This resulted in the NL Wild Card tie-breaker game against the Colorado Rockies, which the Padres lost in 13 innings.
On January 20, 2008, Tomko signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Kansas City Royals. He pitched to a 4.81 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 60+1⁄3 innings of work as a starter and reliever. On June 12, the Royals designated Tomko for assignment.