Cody Eppley

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
R:  2-2-7, 2.10 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 25.2 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 11.9 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 13.5 K/9

Pitching solely in relief, Eppley dominated in his rookie league debut, although for a college draftee that’s not remarkable.

2009
A:  1-3-6, 2.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 67.2 IP, 0.8 BB/9, 10.1 K/9

Eppley continued to pitch very well in low A, although at 23 he remained old for the level.

2010
A+:  2-0-6, 0.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 18.0 IP, 0.5 BB/9, 12.0 K/9
AA:  1-1-9, 1.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 22.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 10.7 K/9
AAA:  2-1-1, 4.08 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.7 K/9

Eppley moved up through three levels of the Rangers’ system.  He was nearly untouchable in high A and AA, but had more trouble in AAA.  His K rate remained high throughout.

2011
AAA:  4-2-10, 3.90 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 55.1 IP, 5.5 BB/9, 8.9 K/9
MLB:  1-1-0, 8.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

The Rangers sent Eppley back to AAA and he struggled with his control.  He got called up for a month when Neftali Feliz got hurt in late April, struggling in ten games.

2012
AAA:  0-0-2, 0.00 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 1.0 BB/9, 12.5 K/9
MLB:  1-2-0, 3.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 46.0 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

The Rangers designated Eppley for assignment just before the start of the season and the Yankees claimed him off waivers.  New York sent him to AAA several times for a total of about three weeks, but he otherwise spent the season in the majors.  He pitched reasonably well, getting his walk rate down and keeping the ball in the park, which isn’t easy to do in the new Yankee Stadium.  He got into four post-season games during the Yankees’ playoff sweep at the hands of the Tigers.

2013
IND:  0-1-0, 2.08 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 4.1 IP, 8.3 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
AAA (NYY):  2-2-3, 8.53 ERA, 2.37 WHIP, 19.0 IP, 7.1 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA (Minn):  2-0-0, 4.88 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 24.0 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 7.5 K/9
MLB (NYY):  0-0-0, 21.60 ERA, 2.40 WHIP, 1.2 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Eppley opened the season with the Yankees but, after getting hammered in his second appearance, they sent him to AAA.  He struggled badly there, and the Yankees outrighted him after a month and released him after another month.  The Twins signed Eppley to a minor league contract and he pitched for their AAA affiliate until late August.  He wasn’t as bad there, but still had control issues.  The Twins released him near the end of the AAA season and he pitched briefly in independent ball.

Eppley’s groundball tendencies no doubt appeal to the Pirates.  He figured to go to Indianapolis and provide bullpen depth, but he wasn’t on any roster at the start of the season.