Ryan Tepera Turning Hype into Wins
A year ago, Ryan Tepera made his Double-A debut with some big expectations in the Blue Jays organization. By the end of the summer, the righty turned in mixed results, in part due to injury. After a strong off-season, which included a stint in the Arizona Fall League, Tepera is off to a great start for the Fisher Cats, winning three of his first four outings. Now, the 25-year-old is looking to carry that over into a new month.
His April was dominant, as he finished 3-1 with a 3.42 ERA. There are lots of factors that can be attributed to that great start, including pitching for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. Although his numbers weren't sparkling (1-2 record and 6.75 ERA in 6 starts), the fact that he was there meant he belongs.
Another factor could simply be familiarity, whether it's with returning pitching coach Tom Signore, the Fisher Cats organization, or the Double-A level in general. This familiarity will breed consistency, something Tepera has been searching for.
"Last year I struggled with being consistent," Tepera said. "One thing I wanted to work on was just being able to get up and be ready (to pitch) every fifth day."
He believes he has now found a set routine between starts, which helps him when he does take the mound. The return of Signore, a familiar voice, also helps. "He knows my mechanics, and what's going good, and he can correct me (when I need it)."
As the 2013 season enters its second month, the former 19th- round draft pick is starting to make some noise in the Toronto organization. With a 34-20 career record in his fifth professional season, the soft spoken Texan is becoming hard to ignore.