Stephen Tarpley Stats & Scouting Report

IP	40.0
ERA	4.50
WHIP	1.100
BB/9	3.2
SO/9	6.8

Full name Stephen Nicholas Tarpley
Born 02/17/1993 in Los Angeles, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 202 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Scottsdale CC
Debut 09/02/2018
Drafted in the 3rd round (98th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 (signed for $525,500).

View Draft Report

Tarpley could be the third Gilbert (Ariz.) High graduate to get drafted in 2013, joining D.J. and Dustin Peterson. Tarpley was an Indians eighth-round pick out of Gilbert in 2011, choosing instead to go to Southern California. He made 13 starts as a freshman and went 5-3, 3.22 in 78 innings, but he transferred to Scottsdale so he would be eligible for the 2013 draft. Early in the season for the Fighting Artichokes, Tarpley was sitting at 92-93 mph with his fastball, topping out at 95. But he has a thin, 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame and seemed to wear down later in the season, when his fastball was more in the 88-90 mph range, topping out at 92. He also throws a curveball, slider and changeup. Tarpley can be stiff on his front side, which elevates his fastball and makes it difficult to get on top of his breaking balls. Athletic lefthanders who touch 95 don't typically last long in the draft, and Tarpley could go as high as the second round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Pirates acquired Tarpley and fellow lefty prospect Steven Brault from the Orioles in the January 2015 trade for Travis Snider. Both pitchers wound up having outstanding seasons, and they established themselves as the two best lefties in the Pittsburgh system. Tarpley began his collegiate career at Southern California before transferring to Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC in order to return home to the Phoenix area and be eligible for the 2013 draft. Despite being held back at extended spring training until late May, Tarpley shined at low Class A West Virginia in 2015, showing much more consistency with his mechanics than he had with the Orioles. Tarpley can reach 95 mph with his fastball and is one of the few pitchers in the Pirates system with a four-pitch mix, for he also has a good curveball and changeup while also dropping in an occasional slider. Tarpley can neutralize righthanded batters at his best because he attacks the strike zone and keeps them guessing with different pitch types. His control grades as comfortably above-average-- he walked just 1.9 batters per nine innings in 2015--so he profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter who is ready to tackle high Class A Bradenton in 2016.
An Indians eighth-round pick out of high school in 2011, Tarpley chose to attend Southern California, where he made 13 starts as a freshman. He transferred to Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC, and the Orioles drafted him in round three in 2013 and signed him to a slot $525,000 bonus. The strong-armed Tarpley made big improvement during a 2014 season that began with him struggling during extended spring training starts and ended with him dominating at short-season Aberdeen. In his last two starts with the IronBirds, he allowed one run in 15 innings with 18 strikeouts. Tarpley pitches in the low 90s, touching 94 mph, with a hard curveball, a changeup he commands well and a slider. During the season, Tarpley made big strides in repeating his delivery, which led to more consistent command. If that continues, he may have No. 3 starter potential. He likely will begin 2015 in the low Class A Delmarva rotation.
An eighth-round pick of the Indians out of an Arizona high school in 2011, Tarpley chose to go to Southern California and made 13 starts as a freshman, going 5-3, 3.22 in 78 innings. He transferred to Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC so he would be eligible for the 2013 draft and posted a 2.35 ERA and 108 strikeouts (fourth-best in NJCAA) in 92 innings in a wood-bat junior college league. Tarpley signed for $525,000 as a third-round pick (98th overall) in the 2013 draft. He pitched mostly at 90-92 mph with a fastball that showed good life in the zone and touched 96. He also throws a curveball and changeup, but the Orioles took away his slider for now so he can improve his curveball. At times Tarpley needed several innings of work before his fastball velocity would rise to accustomed levels. With better extension in his delivery, he would have more consistent velocity and finish his breaking ball. Orioles officials want to see him cut loose more often and improve the tempo in his delivery. Tarpley has the stuff to start and should begin 2014 in the low Class A Delmarva rotation.

Draft Prospects

Tarpley could be the third Gilbert (Ariz.) High graduate to get drafted in 2013, joining D.J. and Dustin Peterson. Tarpley was an Indians eighth-round pick out of Gilbert in 2011, choosing instead to go to Southern California. He made 13 starts as a freshman and went 5-3, 3.22 in 78 innings, but he transferred to Scottsdale so he would be eligible for the 2013 draft. Early in the season for the Fighting Artichokes, Tarpley was sitting at 92-93 mph with his fastball, topping out at 95. But he has a thin, 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame and seemed to wear down later in the season, when his fastball was more in the 88-90 mph range, topping out at 92. He also throws a curveball, slider and changeup. Tarpley can be stiff on his front side, which elevates his fastball and makes it difficult to get on top of his breaking balls. Athletic lefthanders who touch 95 don't typically last long in the draft, and Tarpley could go as high as the second round.

Scouting Reports

The Pirates acquired Tarpley and fellow lefty prospect Steven Brault from the Orioles in the January 2015 trade for Travis Snider. Both pitchers wound up having outstanding seasons, and they established themselves as the two best lefties in the Pittsburgh system. Tarpley began his collegiate career at Southern California before transferring to Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC in order to return home to the Phoenix area and be eligible for the 2013 draft. Despite being held back at extended spring training until late May, Tarpley shined at low Class A West Virginia in 2015, showing much more consistency with his mechanics than he had with the Orioles. Tarpley can reach 95 mph with his fastball and is one of the few pitchers in the Pirates system with a four-pitch mix, for he also has a good curveball and changeup while also dropping in an occasional slider. Tarpley can neutralize righthanded batters at his best because he attacks the strike zone and keeps them guessing with different pitch types. His control grades as comfortably above-average-- he walked just 1.9 batters per nine innings in 2015--so he profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter who is ready to tackle high Class A Bradenton in 2016.

Career Transactions

Sultanes de Monterrey activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated LHP Stephen Tarpley.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the reserve list.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Sultanes de Monterrey.
Lexington Counter Clocks released LHP Stephen Tarpley.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the reserve list.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Sultanes de Monterrey.
Lexington Counter Clocks placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 4, 2023.
Long Island Ducks traded LHP Stephen Tarpley to Lexington Counter Clocks for RHP Merandy Gonzalez.
Long Island Ducks traded LHP Stephen Tarpley to Lexington Counter Clocks for RHP Merandy Gonzalez.
Long Island Ducks activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 7-day injured list.
Long Island Ducks placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day injured list.
Long Island Ducks activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the temporarily inactive list.
Long Island Ducks placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the temporarily inactive list.
Long Island Ducks signed free agent LHP Stephen Tarpley.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Estrellas Orientales.
Long Island Ducks placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 25, 2022.
Long Island Ducks signed free agent LHP Stephen Tarpley.
Long Island Ducks activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 7-day injured list.
Long Island Ducks activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 7-day injured list.
Long Island Ducks placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day injured list.
Long Island Ducks activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the reserve list.
Long Island Ducks signed LHP Stephen Tarpley.
New York Mets released LHP Stephen Tarpley.
New York Mets designated LHP Stephen Tarpley for assignment.
New York Mets optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets recalled LHP Stephen Tarpley from Syracuse Mets.
Syracuse Mets activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 7-day injured list.
Syracuse Mets placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day injured list.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Syracuse Mets from Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets recalled LHP Stephen Tarpley from Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets recalled LHP Stephen Tarpley from Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets optioned P Stephen Tarpley to Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets recalled P Stephen Tarpley from Mets Alternate Training Site.
New York Mets optioned P Stephen Tarpley to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets claimed LHP Stephen Tarpley off waivers from Miami Marlins.
Miami Marlins designated LHP Stephen Tarpley for assignment.
Miami Marlins activated LHP Stephen Tarpley.
Miami Marlins reassigned LHP Stephen Tarpley to the minor leagues.
Miami Marlins activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 10-day injured list.
Miami Marlins placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 22, 2020. Right oblique strain.
New York Yankees traded LHP Stephen Tarpley to Miami Marlins for cash and 3B James Nelson.
New York Yankees designated LHP Stephen Tarpley for assignment.
New York Yankees activated LHP Stephen Tarpley.
New York Yankees reassigned LHP Stephen Tarpley to the minor leagues.
New York Yankees activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 10-day injured list.
New York Yankees sent LHP Stephen Tarpley on a rehab assignment to Trenton Thunder.
New York Yankees placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 10-day injured list. Left elbow impingement.
New York Yankees recalled LHP Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees recalled Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees recalled Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees recalled Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees recalled Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees recalled Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees recalled Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees optioned LHP Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees selected the contract of LHP Stephen Tarpley from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders from Trenton Thunder.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to New York Yankees.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Trenton Thunder from Tampa Yankees.
Tampa Yankees activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 7-day disabled list.
Tampa Yankees placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day disabled list.
Tampa Yankees activated LHP Stephen Tarpley from the 7-day disabled list.
Tampa Yankees placed LHP Stephen Tarpley on the 7-day disabled list.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Tampa Yankees.
Pittsburgh Pirates traded OF Tito Polo and LHP Stephen Tarpley to New York Yankees.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Bradenton Marauders from West Virginia Black Bears.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to West Virginia Power from Pirates Extended Spring Training.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Pirates Extended Spring Training.
Pittsburgh Pirates traded LF Travis Snider to Baltimore Orioles for LHP Stephen Tarpley and Player To Be Named Later.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from GCL Orioles.
LHP Stephen Tarpley assigned to GCL Orioles from Aberdeen IronBirds.
Stephen Tarpley assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds.
Baltimore Orioles signed Stephen Tarpley.