Pick 22 – Cleveland Spiders
Selection: SP Brett Tomko
We’ve danced around his name long enough, and the board finally lines up in a way that makes too much sense to ignore: Brett Tomko, the best available starting pitcher remaining, lands with the Cleveland Spiders.
And honestly?
This is exactly where he belongs.
Cleveland already executed a strong first round—opening with the safe, innings-eating righty Scott Woodward, then grabbing their future centerfield anchor in Torii Hunter. Tomko is the perfect finishing touch, the cherry on top of one of the most balanced opening rounds any team will walk away with.
Let’s be clear about what Tomko is—and what he isn’t:
- He isn’t an ace.
- He is practically finished developing, with 12–13–13 potential across the big three pitching ratings.
- He is a legitimate workhorse, backed by 17 stamina that should put him in the 200-innings-per-year conversation.
- He is a pitcher with two green pitches and a reliable profile you can actually build around.
And most importantly:
He is exactly what Cleveland needs.
Last season exposed the Spiders’ most glaring flaw—fragile pitching depth. They had several expiring arms, several underperformers, and were forced to lean on Bob Sebra as their defacto ace (with a 4.91 ERA to show for it). With free agency looming, they’re flush with cash and likely able to bring back the bulk of their lineup.
But they need innings.
They need stability.
They need arms they don’t have to squint at to believe in.
Woodward gives them one.
Tomko gives them another.
As a future No. 3 starter, Tomko makes all the sense in the world—a dependable, low-variance right-hander who can slot comfortably behind whoever Cleveland brings back this winter.
At pick 22, you’re no longer drafting stars.
You’re drafting solutions.
And Brett Tomko is absolutely a solution.
A perfect fit. A clean evaluation.
A match made in baseball heaven.