Brett Tomko is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over 14 seasons. He was born on April 7, 1973, in San Diego, California, and attended El Dorado High School in Placentia, California. Tomko was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1995 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 1997.
Tomko played for several teams during his career, including the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Texas Rangers. He was known for his versatility as a pitcher, as he could pitch both as a starter and a reliever.
Throughout his career, Tomko had a record of 100-103 with an ERA of 4.65. He pitched a total of 2,684 innings and struck out 1,188 batters. Tomko's best season came in 2002 when he played for the San Francisco Giants. He had a record of 10-10 with an ERA of 3.92 and struck out 153 batters.
Tomko was also known for his durability and work ethic. He pitched in over 400 games during his career and was often called upon to pitch in high-pressure situations. He was also known for his ability to mentor younger players and was respected by his teammates and coaches.
In addition to his MLB career, Tomko also played for the United States national baseball team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He helped lead the team to the semifinals of the tournament, where they were eventually eliminated by Japan.
Tomko retired from professional baseball in 2014 and has since become a pitching coach. He currently works as a pitching coach for the Kansas City T-Bones, a professional baseball team in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Overall, Brett Tomko had a successful career as a professional baseball player. He was known for his versatility, durability, and work ethic, and was respected by his teammates and coaches. While he may not have been a superstar player, he was a valuable asset to every team he played for and made a significant contribution to the sport of baseball.
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