Below Deck: Eppler honing his slider, but consistency remains elusive

COLUMBUS, Ohio. — The pitch that made Tyler Eppler unhittable at times through his first six starts with Triple-A Indianapolis can become his worst enemy.

Such is life in the minor leagues.

The 24-year-old starting pitcher learned to throw a slider late last season with Altoona and it has become his top secondary pitch. His statistics through six starts with Indianapolis this season were eye-opening: a 3-1 record with a 2.36 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP and 29 strikeouts to only six walks.

But his confidence in that same pitch led him astray Monday night in Columbus. After failing to establish his fastball early and throwing too many sliders, Eppler allowed four extra-base hits in a three-run third inning during the Indians' 5-4 loss to the Clippers at Huntington Park.

Though Eppler, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, struggled with his command for most of the night and earned his second loss of the season, he lasted six innings and came away with his latest lesson during his ascent through the Pirates' farm system.



"I just didn’t establish the fastball early," Eppler told DKPittsburghSports.com afterward. "I think I could have gone in a little bit better in those first two innings. Some guys got comfortable the second time through the lineup and I didn’t have the best command in that third inning either. I left some fastballs out over the middle and they took advantage of it."

The start did not tarnish what has been an outstanding start to the season for Eppler and it begins with his slider. Eppler's third season of professional baseball in 2016 was spent in Altoona. A sixth-round draft pick in 2014, he made 22 starts with the Curve, registering 106 strikeouts and 33 walks with a 1.287 WHIP.

But Altoona pitching coach Justin Meccage, who is now the Pirates' minor league pitching coordinator, noticed a theme throughout the season. Opposing hitters were keying on Eppler's fastball. His changeup and curveball were strong, but were not enough to keep hitters honest.

The two started working on his slider and only two bullpen sessions were needed before Eppler tried it out in a game. The first start was difficult, allowing six runs on 12 hits, but Eppler's final two starts of the season showed what the pitch could do for his arsenal.

He allowed only two runs over his final 13 innings while striking out 11.

"Especially when I have my fastball command I can throw that away and throw the slider right off of it," Eppler explained. "Guys are swinging over it. Even in 2-0 counts where guys are sitting on the fastball I can throw that in there and they think it’s a fastball coming. Missing barrels is the main deal we’re trying to do and not really hitting bats."

He's missed more barrels after an offseason spent honing the slider. Opponents were hitting just .194 against Eppler entering Monday and he was allowing just over six hits per nine innings pitched. That includes his outstanding outing last Wednesday against Charlotte, when he allowed four hits and struck out a career-high eight batters in seven shutout innings to earn the win.

Three of his seven starts this season were quality and his splits are outstanding — left-handers are batting just .178 against him. His biggest challenge now is developing consistency on the mound. Like most pitchers in the minor leagues — particularly ones working to improve an off-speed pitch — Eppler must learn to navigate a game like Monday's and to not become rely too much on one pitch.

"He’s a bulldog on the mound and it’s just being able to consistently make those pitches, learning how to set up pitches and pitch sequences," Indianapolis pitching coach Stan Kyles said. "He’s doing all those things and doing them well. He just needs to continue to get those reps in."

A failure to execute a game plan did not stop him from delivering six innings on a night where the Indians' bullpen was taxed following a seven-game home stand. After the Clippers scored their third run in the third, Eppler retired five straight batters before allowing a leadoff double in the fifth.

He then recorded three consecutive outs on seven total pitches to end the inning. Eppler then issued a one-out walk in the sixth, but induced an inning-ending double play. He even used the slider to accomplish the feat.

"He’s very poised and under control," Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett said. "He doesn’t seem easily rattled. A guy like that with stuff like that, it’s impressive to see. We’re excited about his progress. Tonight is a learning experience for him, but with his poise and ability to handle stress out there and still make pitches is encouraging for his future."

Eppler was rated by Baseball America as the Pirates' 18th-best prospect entering this season — 11 spots behind fellow Indians starter Steven Brault, who made his major league debut last July. He also was not mentioned by Pirates general manager Neal Huntington as one of the first starting pitchers to be called up if a starter at the major league level would suffer an injury.

First, he must improve on the art of executing a game plan. That begins with learning when to throw what has become his most deadly weapon. Kyles said that will come with experience since Eppler has only pitched 40 1/3 total innings in Triple-A.

Eppler called his one full season in Altoona his "learning point" during his professional career. It's when he discovered his identity on the mound and used each of his 162 1/3 innings to prepare himself for a stint in Indianapolis.

The early results are overwhelmingly positive, and Eppler was far from discouraged after one rough game on the mound.

"We had hoped it was just something to get people off the fastball, to keep hitters off balance, but it’s turned into my best secondary pitch," Eppler said of his slider. "It feels really good right now. I’m just working it more and more, and the location of it."

MORE FROM INDIANAPOLIS
May 8: vs. Charlotte, 5-3 win
May 9: vs. Charlotte, 3-2 win
May 10: vs. Charlotte, 1-0 win
May 11: vs. Norfolk, 7-1 win
May 12: vs. Norfolk, 11-4 loss
May 13: vs. Norfolk, 4-1 win
May 14: vs. Norfolk, 5-4 win

Chris Bostick, who the Pirates acquired last September from the Nationals, made his major league debut last Monday night in Los Angeles, going 0 for 4 in three games. Max Moroff joined him with the Pirates and went 1 for 9 in four games with four strikeouts.

Both were returned to Indianapolis when David Freese and Adam Frazier were activated from the disabled list Friday, and made an immediate impact upon their return to Triple-A. Moroff, a shortstop and second baseman, had a home run and two RBI Saturday against Norfolk.

Bostick, a 24-year-old utility man who has been playing mostly the corner outfield positions with Indianapolis over the past few weeks, went 7 for 10 with three RBI in his first two games back to help the Indians finish the week with a 6-1 record. Though he was somewhat of an afterthought in spring training, Bostick is now one of the more intriguing options in Indianapolis.

Through Sunday, he was batting .355, second in the International League, with 14 extra-base hits and 14 RBI, striking out only 18 times in 107 at-bats. A former draft pick of the Oakland Athletics, Bostick excelled in 71 games with Double-A Harrisburg in 2015, but struggled when recalled to Triple-A.

Playing both second base and outfield, Bostick batted just .203 in 64 games with Syracuse, the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate. He was designated for assignment by the Nationals in late September before being acquired by the Pirates. With Austin Meadows still finding himself at the plate, Bostick is one of the few corner outfielders in the system the Pirates could call upon if another injury occurs.

"I’m going to move around," Bostick said. "That’s kind of what I heard from the coaches. Still obviously working in the outfield and all of that. It’s a skill set I need to continue to develop, being able to move around. You need defensive versatility because there’s not always spots. Sometimes there’s value in things other than hitting 100 home runs. That’s part of my game and something I’m trying to work on."

He's very much a work in progress. Though Bostick has the athleticism to play the position, he still struggles taking proper angles. He missed a fly ball Monday night in Columbus, leading to a run-scoring triple in the third inning.

Moroff, meanwhile, has different issues that need addressed. He has now struck out 35 times in 107 at-bats and has committed a total of 11 errors at three different positions —second base, shortstop and third base.

His move to playing mostly shortstop coincided with the Pirates recalling Gift Ngoepe and though seven of his errors have occurred there, it's not a matter of Moroff being out of his comfort zone. He played shortstop in high school and played 155 1/3 innings there a year ago.

The fielding woes aren't a concern to him. The strikeouts are a different story, though.

"I need to work on my two-strike approach," Moroff, who committed a throwing error Monday night, said. "That’s about it. Spread out, choke up. Don’t get in two strikes if you don’t have to. You have to be aggressive. Don’t miss your pitch."

• Right-handed reliever Edgar Santana has been dominant at the back of the Indians' bullpen. He tossed three scoreless innings last Saturday night to earn his fifth save, pushing his scoreless innings streak to 17 2/3 innings over his previous 12 appearances. The 25-year-old has allowed just two runs (one earned) and only 15 baserunners (10 hits, five walks) in 21 1/3 innings this season for a 0.42 ERA.

• Austin Meadows continues to play both corner outfield spots for the Indians, and his offense is still very much a work in progress.

Meadows went 9 for 26 last week with six runs and two RBI. His slash line is now .219/.284/.581 with eight extra-base hits in 128 at-bats.

ALTOONA ALERT
May 8: at Richmond, 3-1 loss
May 9: at Richmond, 14-6 loss
May 10: at Richmond, 10-3 win
May 11: vs. New Hampshire, 4-3 win
May 12: vs. New Hampshire, 7-1 win
May 13: vs. New Hampshire, 7-5 loss
May 14: vs. New Hampshire, 6-4 win

Second baseman Kevin Kramer, a second-round pick in 2015, extended his on-base streak to 30 straight games to start the season, three shy of the Altoona franchise record. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter went 7 for 26 with six RBI last week. He now has 12 doubles, two triples and three home runs. Through Sunday, his .360 batting average was the best in the Eastern League.

Shortstop Kevin Newman, a first-round pick in 2015, delivered five hits last week and is batting .261 in 119 at-bats this season. He also owns a .984 fielding percentage.

BRADENTON UPDATE
May 8: at Jupiter, 3-1 win
May 9: at Jupiter, 3-1 win
May 10: at Jupiter, 5-1 win
May 11: vs. Palm Beach, 5-1 win
May 12: vs. Palm Beach, 20-2 win
May 13: vs. Palm Beach, 12-4 win

Shortstop Cole Tucker had a memorable Friday night. The former first-round pick went 4 for 6 with his first two home runs of the season and seven RBI in a 20-2 win over Palm Beach. Through Sunday, he owned a .285/.369/.793 slash line with 12 extra-base hits and 16 RBI.

That overshadowed another eventful nights for the Pirates' organization last week. Nick Kingham, who suffered an ankle injury during spring training, made his season debut with the Marauders Thursday night. He threw five scoreless innings and allowed only one hit.

It's promising news for the Pirates since the organization is short on impact arms in the system after the promotions of Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon last year. Kingham will likely move slowly up through the system.

The 25-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, when he started 14 games for Indianapolis. He made 10 minor league starts in 2016, eventually reaching Altoona, where he allowed seven runs in 11 innings. Kingham holds a career 397:160 strikeout to walk ratio in the minors.

First baseman Will Craig, the Pirates' first-round pick last year, had another strong week, going 7 for 22 with one home run and four RBI.