RELIEF ACE EPPLEY REJOINS ‘STORMERS

PA Native Returns to Original ALPB Club

Cody Eppley is back with the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The side wheeling right-hander, after spending the last 3 ½ seasons with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, has returned to the team with whom he celebrated an Atlantic League championship in 2014, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.

Eppley, 33, joined the Barnstormers initially in 2013 after beginning the season with the New York Yankees and spending the bulk of the season with the Minnesota Twins’ Class AAA affiliate in Rochester, NY.  He would return midway through the 2014 season and went 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 26 games, helping the ‘Stormers capture their second title in franchise history.

He was traded to the Blue Crabs early in the 2015 season.  Over his time with Southern Maryland, the Harrisburg-area native appeared in 205 games and racked up 87 saves.

The VCU product is currently 11^th in career Atlantic League appearances with 251 and ranks fourth in all-time saves in the circuit with 88.

He signed with the Texas Rangers in 2008 and reached the big leagues as a Ranger in 2011.  The righty spent a portion of the next two seasons with the Yankees.  Eppley also appeared in four games of the 2012 American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, not allowing a run over 3 2/3 innings.

“Eppley has put up big numbers from his time in this league,” said Peeples.  “He works his tail off every day and will be a great veteran guy for us in the locker room and in the back end of the bullpen.”

His signing gives the Barnstormers 22 players, including eight with Major League experience, under contract for the 2019 season.