{{short description|American baseball player (born 1993)}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Tyler Eppler | image = File:Tyler Eppler (51183977196) (cropped).jpg | caption = Epler with the Rochester Red Wings in 2021 | position = Pitcher | team = Rakuten Monkeys | number = 23 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|1|5}} | birth_place = Navasota, Texas, U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = NPB | debutdate = May 4 | debutyear = 2019 | debutteam = Orix Buffaloes | debut2league = KBO | debut2date = April 5 | debut2year = 2022 | debut2team = Kiwoom Heroes | debut3league = CPBL | debut3date = April 3 | debut3year = 2023 | debut3team = Fubon Guardians | statleague = NPB | statyear = 2019 season | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 4–4 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 4.02 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 25 | stat2league = KBO | stat2year = 2022 season | stat21label = Win–loss record | stat21value = 6–8 | stat22label = Earned run average | stat22value = 4.30 | stat23label = Strikeouts | stat23value = 86 | stat3league = CPBL | stat3year = May 17, 2026 | stat31label = Win–loss record | stat31value = 19–17 | stat32label = Earned run average | stat32value = 2.94 | stat33label = Strikeouts | stat33value = 220 | teams = * Orix Buffaloes ({{npby|2019}}) * Kiwoom Heroes ({{kboy|2022}}) * Fubon Guardians ({{by|2023}}) * Wei Chuan Dragons ({{by|2024}}–{{by|2025}}) * Rakuten Monkeys ({{by|2026}}–present) }}
'''Tyler Austin Eppler''' (born January 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes, the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes, and the CPBL for the Fubon Guardians and Wei Chuan Dragons.
==Career== ===Pittsburgh Pirates=== Eppler attended Navasota High School in Navasota, Texas, and played college baseball at Texarkana College and Sam Houston State University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theeagle.com/aggie_sports/blogs/aggiesports/a-lot-of-teams-probably-wish-they-had-shsu-s/article_3c428148-99ea-555a-adde-6bc00ee7e6ac.html |title=A lot of teams probably wish they had SHSU's Eppler | Aggie Sports |publisher=theeagle.com |date=May 31, 2014 |accessdate=January 22, 2018}}</ref> The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Eppler in the sixth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{cite web|last=McDonald |first=Scott |url=http://www.navasotaexaminer.com/sports/article_a884fffe-f17f-11e3-b1c2-001a4bcf887a.html |title=Eppler drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates |publisher=The Navasota Examiner |date=June 11, 2014 |accessdate=January 22, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026}}</ref> He signed with the Pirates on June 11, 2014, for a signing bonus worth $200,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2014/06/sixth-round-pick-tyler-eppler-signs-with-pirates.html|title=Sixth Round Pick Tyler Eppler Signs With Pirates – Pirates Prospects|website=www.piratesprospects.com}}</ref>
Eppler made his professional debut with the Jamestown Jammers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theeagle.com/aggie_sports/blogs/aggiesports/shsu-s-eppler-agrees-to-terms-with-pirates-heads-to/article_bcb056cd-5446-52db-a08f-6908867ab4b3.html |title=SHSU's Eppler agrees to terms with Pirates, heads to Class A ball | Aggie Sports |publisher=theeagle.com |date=June 12, 2014 |accessdate=January 22, 2018}}</ref> pitching in 14 games, posting a 2.49 ERA. He played 2015 with the Bradenton Marauders and Altoona Curve, going 6–2 with a 3.14 ERA in 15 games. After the season he played in the Arizona Fall League. He spent 2016 with Altoona, pitching to a 9–1 record and 3.99 ERA in a career high 162.1 innings pitched. He spent 2017 with the Indianapolis Indians,<ref>{{cite web|author=Biertempfel |url=http://triblive.com/sports/college/pennstate/11989771-74/eppler-pitch-cutter |title=Pirates pitcher Eppler hopes new pitch helps him become more effective, reach majors |publisher=TribLIVE |date=February 26, 2017 |accessdate=January 22, 2018|first=Rob}}</ref> posting an 8–9 record with a 4.89 ERA. Eppler returned to the Indians in 2018, going 13–6 with a 3.59 ERA in 28 games (25 starts).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/tyler-eppler-621169#/|title=Tyler Eppler Stats, Highlights, Bio|publisher=MiLB.com|accessdate=October 10, 2018}}</ref>
===Orix Buffaloes=== thumb|upright|Eppler pitching for Orix in 2019. On January 15, 2019, the Orix Buffaloes purchased Eppler's contract from the Pirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190115-00000092-kyodonews-base|title=オリックス、エップラーを獲得 3Aの長身右腕投手|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050056/headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190115-00000092-kyodonews-base|archive-date=2019-01-16|language=Japanese |accessdate=2021-08-25}}</ref> In 24 games for Orix, he recorded a 4–4 record and 4.02 ERA with 25 strikeouts across {{fraction|31|1|3}} innings pitched. On December 2, Eppler became a free agent.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://npb.jp/announcement/2019/pn_released.html | title=2019年度 自由契約選手 | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | language=Japanese | date= | accessdate=December 22, 2019 }}</ref>
===Washington Nationals=== On January 9, 2020, Eppler signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. Eppler did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|website=MLB Trade Rumors|language=en}}</ref> In 2021, Eppler appeared in 19 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, posting a 7.75 ERA with 48 strikeouts. On August 24, 2021, Eppler was released by the Nationals.
===Kiwoom Heroes=== On December 17, 2021, Eppler signed a one-year, $400,000 deal with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20211217007400315|title=Heroes sign new pitcher; Lions, Landers bring back foreign players|publisher=Yonhap News Agency |date=December 17, 2021 |accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref> He became a free agent after the 2022 season.
===Fubon Guardians=== On January 5, 2023, Eppler signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yen |first1=William |title=Fubon Guardians sign American pitcher Tyler Eppler |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202301060009 |access-date=January 16, 2023 |agency=Central News Agency |date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> Eppler made 9 starts for Fubon, posting a 3–1 record and 2.89 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 56.0 innings pitched. On June 21, he was released by the Guardians. The release was made after Eppler decided to terminate the contract early for personal reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fubon Guardians Release Tyler Eppler|url=http://cpblstats.com/fubon-guardians-release-tyler-eppler/|access-date=June 21, 2023|website=cpblstats.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Sultanes de Monterrey=== On June 30, 2023, Eppler signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sultanes.com.mx/noticias/tyler-eppler-sera-activado-por-sultanes|title=Tyler Eppler será activado por Sultanes|website=sultanes.com.mx|language=ES|accessdate=July 1, 2023|date=30 June 2023}}</ref> In 7 starts for Monterrey, Eppler registered a 4–1 record and 4.23 ERA with 27 strikeouts across {{fraction|38|1|3}} innings pitched.
===Wei Chuan Dragons=== On February 6, 2024, Eppler signed with the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wei Chuan Dragons Sign Tyler Eppler for 2024 CPBL season|url=http://cpblstats.com/wei-chuan-dragons-sign-tyler-eppler-2024-cpbl-season/|access-date=February 6, 2024|website=cpblstats.com|language=en}}</ref> He made 24 starts for Wei Chuan, compiling a 10-11 record and 2.75 ERA with 118 strikeouts across {{fraction|150|2|3}} innings pitched.
Eppler pitched in 21 games (including 18 starts) for the Dragons during the 2025 season, accumulating a 6-5 record and 3.21 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 115 innings of work.
===Rakuten Monkeys=== On February 5, 2026, Eppler signed with the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rakuten Monkeys Sign Tyler Eppler for 2026 Season|url=http://cpblstats.com/rakuten-monkeys-sign-tyler-eppler-2026-season/|access-date=February 5, 2026|website=cpblstats.com|date=February 5, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Eppler's younger brother, Shelton, plays quarterback for the Osos de Monterrey of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernández |first=Aarón |date=2025-07-03 |title=Shelton Eppler, quarterback de Osos de Monterrey: quién es |url=https://www.telediario.mx/deportes/futbol-americano/shelton-eppler-quarterback-de-osos-de-monterrey-quien-es |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Telediario México |language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats |mlb=621169 |espn=36115 |br= |fangraphs= |brm=eppler000tyl}} *[http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=205985463 Sam Houston State Bearkats bio] *{{twitter|TylerEppler36}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eppler, Tyler}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:Altoona Curve players Category:Baseball players from Grimes County, Texas Category:Bradenton Marauders players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Glendale Desert Dogs players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Jamestown Jammers players Category:Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Category:Orix Buffaloes players Category:People from Navasota, Texas Category:Rakuten Monkeys players Category:Rochester Red Wings players Category:Sam Houston Bearkats baseball players Category:Sultanes de Monterrey players Category:Texarkana Bulldogs baseball players Category:Rochester Honkers players Category:Wei Chuan Dragons players