Ryan Tepera and Chad Jenkins Trade Places

After just one appearance RHP Chad Jenkins is heading back to Buffalo after pitching just 2.1IP. Jenkins should be getting accustomed to this yo-yo act by now. Last year, Chad was called up to Toronto 3 times, finishing the year in Buffalo.

Jenkins made 21 appearances and pitched 31.2 innings with Toronto in 2014. On top of that he appeared in 21 games, 4 starts, and pitched 44.0 innings with Buffalo. In Buffalo, Chad held RHB to a .242BA, but LHB almost hit .300, batting .297.

In 2015, Jenkins has been used primarily as a starter and has done pretty good, 1-1, 2.89ERA as starter versus 0-0, 4.50 ERA as a reliever. Unfortunately, I expect Chadwick to be used as reliever when he returns to the Bisons.

I have spoken about Ryan Dennis Tepera in the past (read me), so I’m super excited that he will finally get a chance to pitch in the majors. After receiving a text from Buffalo Bisons manager Gary Allenson while eating dinner, Ryan was told that Toronto is calling him up.

The 19th round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009 has steadily progressed through the Blue Jays system and was in his second year with the Herd. The 6’1″ Texan started his professional career as a starter, but started to be shifted to the bullpen in 2013.

Here is some old video from 2013, while still a starter.  His delivery has changed a bit. Now he takes the ball out of the glove earlier in his wind up and throws at a lower arm slot…not much lower.

As starter, Ryan’s fastball was thrown in the low 90’s, but he has seen a few more mile per hour and extra action since beiing converted to a RP.

In his last outing with the Bisons, on May 6th in relief of Daniel Norris, Ryan’s fastball topped out at 96 mhp and he finished with 4 strike outs over 2.1IP….no walks and 2 groundballs.

Ryan Tepera throws from a 3/4 slot, with a fastball that tails away from right handed batters and it registers between 92 and 96. He relies heavily on a 88-92 sinker/slider mix. He also throws a change up, but which Blue Jays doesn’t.

Take a look at the 27 year-olds minor league stats

To say he’s dominated Triple-A batters to start the young season would be an understatement. In 8 games, He has held RHB to a .097 batting average and LHB to a .143 batting average. With the Herd he was used primarily between innings 6-8 and always more that one inning.

He’ll walk the odd batter, averaging 3.38 BB/9 in 2014 and 4.34 in 2013, but he has solid strike out totals as a reliever, 9.42 K/9 in 2014 and 8.15 K/9. I accept John Gibbons to use him early and often, becoming one of Gibby’s go to guys.

Good Luck Ryan Tepera.

Chad, I am 100% positive that we’ll see you back in Toronto sooner than later.

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