Ryan Tepera

Dennis Ryan Tepera (born November 3, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs. He attended Brazoswood High School in Texas, and played college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

Ryan Tepera
Tepera with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1987-11-03) November 3, 1987
Houston, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 10, 2015, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record12–12
Earned run average3.66
Strikeouts234
Teams

Minor league career
Tepera with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2010

After graduating from Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, Tepera played college baseball at Blinn College before transferring to Sam Houston State University.[1] In 2009, his senior season, he went 2-1 with a 7.33 ERA over 43 innings.[2] The Blue Jays selected Tepera in the 19th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, and made 11 appearances for the team, including 5 starts. Tepera posted a 3–1 win–loss record, 1.72 ERA, and 42 strikeouts in 36​2⁄3 innings.[4] In 2010, he was promoted to the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts, and pitched 120 innings over 24 appearances (22 starts). In total, Tepera earned a 9–6 record, 3.98 ERA, and 79 strikeouts.[4] He played the 2011 season with the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays, posting an 11–6 record, 4.43 ERA, and 93 strikeouts in a career-high 146​1⁄3 innings.[4] Tepera started the 2012 season in Dunedin, and was later promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He struggled during the year, and finished with an 8–6 record, 5.48 ERA, and 71 strikeouts.[4] In the offseason, Tepera played with the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, and made 6 starts, going 1–2 with a 6.75 ERA.[4]

Tepera played the entire 2013 season in Double-A New Hampshire, bouncing back with a 10–8 record, 4.50 ERA, and 105 strikeouts in 116 innings.[4] 2014 saw Tepera make his first trip to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he pitched exclusively as a reliever. In 51 games, he posted a 7–3 record, 3.66 ERA, and 67 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.[4] The Blue Jays added Tepera to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2014 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[5] He began the 2015 season with the Buffalo Bisons, and was promoted to the major leagues by the Blue Jays on May 8.[6]

Major league career

Toronto Blue Jays

Tepera made his debut on May 10, 2015, against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched 2 innings in relief of R.A. Dickey, and did not allow a baserunner, while striking out 1.[7][8] Tepera was optioned back to Buffalo on August 1,[9] and recalled on September 1.[10] He earned his first save on September 12, closing out a 9–5 win over the New York Yankees.[11] Tepera was initially left off of the postseason roster, however he was added on October 10 after Brett Cecil suffered a season-ending calf injury the day prior.[12]

After participating in 2016 Major League spring training, Tepera was announced on March 30 as one of the Blue Jays bullpen pitchers for Opening Day.[13] However, shortly afterward the Blue Jays signed Franklin Morales and optioned Tepera to Triple-A Buffalo. On April 27, Tepera was recalled from Buffalo.[14] After taking the loss against the San Francisco Giants on May 11, Tepera was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo.[15] He was recalled on May 30,[16] and optioned again on June 5.[17] On July 24, Tepera was recalled after Drew Storen was designated for assignment.[18] Tepera was returned to Buffalo on July 26. He was recalled on August 10, and optioned back to Buffalo on August 23.[19] After the Major League roster expansion on September 1, Tepera was called up by Toronto.[20] After spring training, Tepera made the 2017 Opening Day roster.[21] On April 21, he earned his first career win after pitching three shutout innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[22] Tepera finished the 2017 season with a 3.59 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 77​2⁄3 innings.[23] He began the 2018 season as the setup man to closer Roberto Osuna. He was placed on the disabled list on June 30 with elbow inflammation.[24] Tepera finished the season with a 5–5 record in 68 games, striking out 68 in ​64 2⁄3 innings.

Chicago Cubs

Tepera was designated for assignment on November 4, 2019. He elected free agency four days later.[25] On December 20, he signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.[26] On November 12, 2020, Tepera received a single vote for National League Most Valuable Player, finishing in a tie for eighteenth place.[27] Rick Hummel, the writer who cast the vote for Tepera, indicated that it was an input error: Hummel had intended to vote for Trea Turner, but clicked the wrong name on the online form's drop-down menu.[28] On December 2, Tepera was nontendered by the Cubs.

References
  1. http://thefacts.com/sports/article_3b23f3b7-f97b-5959-be82-bed3531aa226.html
  2. https://gobearkats.com/news/2009/7/3/3759439.aspx
  3. "Sam Houston State's Tepera signs with Blue Jays". Sports Update. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  4. "Ryan Tepera Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  5. "Blue Jays add Ryan Tepera to 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  6. "Blue Jays recall Tepera for MLB debut". Buffalo Bisons. May 8, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  7. Chisholm, Gregor (May 10, 2015). "Tepera has memorable Major League debut". MLB.com. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  8. "Red Sox jump on Dickey early in win vs. Blue Jays". Sportsnet. May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  9. Hoad, Michael (August 1, 2015). "Blue Jays recall Kawasaki, DFA Carrera, Valencia". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  10. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (September 1, 2015). "Blue Jays promote five players as rosters expand". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  11. "Blue Jays sweep Yankees doubleheader, widen AL East lead". ctvnews.ca. September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  12. Davidi, Shi (October 10, 2015). "Blue Jays add Tepera to roster in place of injured Cecil". Sportsnet. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  13. Davidi, Shi (March 30, 2016). "Roberto Osuna named closer as Blue Jays reveal opening day roster". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  14. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (April 27, 2016). "Blue Jays recall Tepera, option Venditte to triple-A". Sportsnet. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  15. "Toronto Blue Jays on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  16. "Blue Jays recall RHP Ryan Tepera, designate INF Jimmy Paredes for assignment". Sportsnet. May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  17. "Blue Jays recall INF Matt Dominguez, option RHP Ryan Tepera". Sportsnet. June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  18. "Blue Jays designate Drew Storen for assignment". Sportsnet. July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  19. "Blue Jays' Ryan Tepera: Optioned to Triple-A Buffalo". August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  20. Davidi, Shi (September 1, 2016). "Pompey headlines Blue Jays' early September call-ups". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  21. "Blue Jays' Ryan Tepera: Wins Opening Day gig". cbssports.com.
  22. @RTepera (21 April 2017). "What a game last night! W's are always special, but when they include your first career win and 3 scoreless innings, it's unforgettable" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. "Ryan Tepera stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  24. Davidi, Shi (June 30, 2018). "Blue Jays place Ryan Tepera on DL, recall Jake Petricka". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  25. "Ryan Tepera Elects Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  26. "Cubs sign righty reliever Tepera to 1-year deal". MLB.com. December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  27. "Braves First Baseman Freddie Freeman Wins NL MVP". BBWAA. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  28. Wittenmeyer, Gordon (November 12, 2020). "The unbelievable story behind Ryan Tepera's MVP vote". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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