The MLB Draft League announced on Monday that the State College Spikes' Tommy Gross had received the circuit's first Pitcher of the Week Award of the season for the opening week of the season from June 2-7.
Gross made his debut for the Spikes in their special State College Six Seven alternate identity on Sunday night, but made zero his number with three scoreless, hitless innings on the mound. The right-hander from Central Missouri allowed just two walks and a hit batsman while racking up six strikeouts in a 53-pitch outing.
A native of Minnetonka, Minn., Gross joined current Spikes teammates Gavin Killion and Cale Willson in helping Central Missouri reach the NCAA Division II Men's College World Series in Cary, N.C. before coming north to Happy Valley.
The righty is in his second stint in the MLB Draft League, having gone 2-0 with a 5.57 earned run average over six appearances for the West Virginia Black Bears in 2022.
Gross becomes the first Spike to earn MLB Draft League Pitcher of the Week honors since Roman Kimball did so for the week of June 17-22, 2025. and the seventh to do so since 2022.
Fans can catch Gross and the Spikes back in action at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a six-game homestand from June 16-21, featuring a three-night Salute to Canada when the Spikes host the Canadian Junior National Team for a trio games in the International Series from June 16-18, the first Bark in the Park Night of the season on Friday, June 19, and BuccoMania Night featuring special appearances by the Pirate Parrot, Pittsburgh Pierogies and Bucco Brigade along with FIREWORKS as part of the 20th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, June 20.
