Former Shark Makes MLB Debut
Published on April 26, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. - Former Wilmington Sharks right-hander Cody Eppley made his major league debut Saturday night with the Texas Rangers.
Entering out of the pen in the top of the seventh inning, Eppley went two innings and surrendered just a pair of hits. He also struck out one as he helped lead the Rangers to a 3-1 victory over Kansas City.
"It was a blast just to get out there on the mound," Eppley told Evan Grant of the Dallas News. "To get the strike out gave me a little more confidence to do the job, but that's how I've worked to right-handers since I dropped down. It was just going back to muscle-memory and letting that take over. It still hasn't sunk in and probably won't until I wake up tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be shocked, then."
A member of the Sharks in 2007, Eppley is now the 41st CPL alum to make it to the show, and the fourth from the Wilmington franchise to do so. Furthermore, he is the second alum to debut during the 2011 season.
Taken in the 43rd round of the 2008 MLB draft out of Virginia Commonwealth University, Eppley started with Rookie-level Arizona before moving up to Clinton by the end of 2008. The next year, he found himself in Single-A Hickory, where he went 1-3 with a 2.93 ERA through 37 appearances.
Eppley started the 2010 season with High-A Bakersfield and was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA through 18 innings before being promoted to Frisco (AA). After pitching effectively for the RoughRiders (1-1, 1.19 ERA), he was called up to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he finished the year with a 2-1 record and 4.08 ERA through 28 2/3 innings of work.
After being invited to spring training with the Rangers, he began the 2011 season at Triple-A Round Rock and pitched 8 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball before getting the call to join the big club in Arlington.
While in Wilmington, Eppley went 3-4 with a 4.69 ERA through eight starts. In 48 innings of work, he allowed 27 runs - 25 earned - on 52 hits, while walking just 18 and striking out 39. Further, he threw a complete game with eight strikeouts against New Bern on June 23rd as the Sharks swam to a 4-2 win.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 15th season in 2011, the CPL features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both the players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 41 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (at cpleague).
Coastal Plain League Stories from April 26, 2011
- Former Shark Makes MLB Debut - Wilmington Sharks
- Wilmington Sharks Host Craft Beer Fest - Wilmington Sharks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
