Royals release veteran pitcher Brett Tomko
By Dan Zinski
Brett Tomko’s attempt at a major league comeback has hit a significant roadblock after the 41-year-old pitcher was released by the Kansas City Royals from their AAA Omaha team.
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Tomko posted a 3.80 ERA in 28 innings at Omaha this year, not quite good enough to get him back with the big club.
If this is truly the end of the road for Tomko (cue Boyz II Men), he will leave with the following major league marks: 14 season with Cincinnati, Seattle, San Diego, St. Louis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, New York (AL), Oakland and Texas. 100-103 record, 4.65 ERA, 266 starts, 2 shutouts, 2 saves, 1816 innings, 1209 strikeouts, 582 walks, 1.366 WHIP.
Best season: 2003 when he went 13-9 for the Cardinals despite allowing a league high 252 hits and 119 earned runs.
Tomko last pitched in the majors in 2011 as a member of the Texas Rangers, going 0-1 in 8 relief appearances.
The overall stats aren’t great but he is just three games under .500 for his career and he managed to cobble together 100 victories, so the guy obviously knows something about pitching. Just not enough to overcome the reality of being a 41-year-old has-been in a world of 25-year-old studs throwing 95 MPH with elbow-destroying sliders.
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