Pittsburgh Pirates: Double-A Altoona Player Awards

Pitcher of the Year

Although he had a losing record, Tyler Eppler is the Altoona Curve pitcher of the year.  On the season Eppler went nine and ten.  He pitched to a relatively solid earned run average of 3.99.  Although not the best earned run average on the staff, he had the most solid season of the staff.  Clay Holmes, the big name of the staff, struggled early on and gave up a lot of base runners.  Similar to Cody Dickson, who had a better earned run average, but a much higher WHIP.  On the year Eppler had an impressive WHIP of 1.28, which led the Altoona Curve pitching staff.  Eppler also led the team in starts and innings pitched.  He showed that he could be a reliable back end starter for this team and an inning eater.  He also gave a strong strikeout to walk ratio of 3.2 strikeouts per one walk.

Eppler was a sixth round pick in the 2014 draft.  He came from Sam Houston State, the same college that fellow teammate Cody Dickson was from. The right-handed pitcher is now just 23 years of age and will likely start in Triple-A next year.  Eppler will never be a big time prospect, however he is notable s he is rated as a top 30 in the system.  Eppler does not project to be a legitimate pitcher in this league, but he could be a nice back-end of the rotation type pitcher.  If he continues to put up solid, consistent numbers, as he has done his whole minor league career. So, who is the hitter of the year?