| Tyler Eppler | |
| Team: | Wei Chuan Dragons |
| Number: | 35 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 5 January 1993 |
| 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: | April 5, 2024 |
| Stat31label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat31value: | 3-2 |
| Stat32label: | Earned run average |
| Stat32value: | 2.77 |
| Stat33label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat33value: | 34 |
| Teams: | |
Tyler Austin Eppler (born January 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Wei Chuan Dragons 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.
Eppler attended Navasota High School in Navasota, Texas, and played college baseball at Texarkana College and Sam Houston State University.[1] The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Eppler in the sixth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed with the Pirates on June 11, 2014, for a signing bonus worth $200,000.[3]
Eppler made his professional debut with the Jamestown Jammers,[4] 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,[5] posting an 8–9 record with a 4.89 ERA.[6] Eppler returned to the Indians in 2018, going 13–6 with a 3.59 ERA in 28 games (25 starts).[7]
On January 15, 2019, the Orix Buffaloes purchased Eppler's contract from the Pirates.[8] In 24 games for Orix, he recorded a 4–4 record and 4.02 ERA with 25 strikeouts across innings pitched. On December 2, Eppler became a free agent.[9]
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.[10] 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.
On December 17, 2021, Eppler signed a one-year, $400,000 deal with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.[11] He became a free agent after the 2022 season.
On January 5, 2023, Eppler signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[12] 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.[13]
On June 30, 2023, Eppler signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.[14] In 7 starts for Monterrey, Eppler registered a 4–1 record and 4.23 ERA with 27 strikeouts across innings pitched.
On February 6, 2024, Eppler signed with the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[15]
His younger brother, Shelton, plays quarterback for the Fundidores de Monterrey.