Kevin Jepsen

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Kevin Jepsen

| image = Kevin Jepsen on August 23, 2015.jpg

| image_size = 240px

| caption = Jepsen with the Twins in 2015

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|26}}

| birth_place = Anaheim, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 8

| debutyear = 2008

| debutteam = Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = May 19

| finalyear = 2018

| finalteam = Texas Rangers

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 18–33

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.00

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 373

| teams =

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2014}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2015}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2016}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2018}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}

}}

Kevin Martin Jepsen (born July 26, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers.

Professional career

=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim=

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Jepsen in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Bishop Manogue High School.

Jepsen earned his first All-Star selection in the minor leagues, and was enjoying his finest season to date with a combined 3–4 record, 13 saves, a 1.87 earned run average and 55 strikeouts for the Arkansas Travelers and Salt Lake Bees when he was selected to play for the United States national baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He and his team won a bronze medal.{{cite web |url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Kevin%20Jepsen&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=448178 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630153447/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Kevin%20Jepsen&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=448178 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |title=Minor League Baseball |access-date=August 30, 2008}}

Jepsen made his major league debut against the New York Yankees on September 8, 2008, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. He pitched one inning in a blowout game, retiring Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, and Alex Rodriguez in order. Jepsen pitched in nine games for the Angels in the 2008 season.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

Jepsen had his first full major-league season in 2009. His first year was overshadowed by the death of his teammate and friend Nick Adenhart. Jepsen was responsible for hanging up Adenhart's jersey in the dugout every game.{{Cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090928&content_id=7215914&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana |title=Adenhart's memory inspires Angels |first=Lyle |last=Spencer |work=MLB.com |date=September 28, 2009 |access-date=October 25, 2009}} In spite of this, Jepsen threw a career-high 54 innings. He had shoulder tendinitis in September, slowing his return to Spring Training in 2010.{{cite news |last=DiGiovanna |first=Mike |title=Angel's Matt Palmer still has a positive attitude. . .aa |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels-fyi22-2010feb22,0,7165188.story |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 22, 2010}} Despite this, Jepsen appeared in 68 games, recording 2 wins and 4 losses in 59 innings. In 2011, Jepsen spent time between the disabled list and the minors, appearing in only 16 games.

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On December 16, 2014, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Matt Joyce.{{cite web |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/16/angels-acquire-matt-joyce-from-rays-for-kevin-jepsen/ |title=Angels acquire Matt Joyce from Rays for Kevin Jepsen – HardballTalk |work=nbcsports.com |date=December 16, 2014 |access-date=July 31, 2015}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On July 31, 2015, the Minnesota Twins acquired Jepsen for Chih-Wei Hu and Alexis Tapia.{{cite web |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/31/twins-trade-for-rays-reliever-kevin-jepsen/ |title=Twins trade for Rays reliever Kevin Jepsen – HardballTalk |work=nbcsports.com |date=July 31, 2015 |access-date=July 31, 2015}} After closer Glen Perkins suffered an injury in the first week of the 2016 season, Jepsen was given the closer role but struggled throughout the season in the closer role and in non save situations. On July 3, he was designated for assignment after posting an ERA of 6.16 while recording just 7 saves for the last place Twins.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-kevin-jepsen-designated-for-assignment/ |title=Twins' Kevin Jepsen: Designated for Assignment |work=cbssports.com |access-date=July 3, 2016}} Jepsen was released on July 11.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/twins-designate-kevin-jepsen-for-assignment.html|title=Twins Release Kevin Jepsen|last=Byrne|first=Connor|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 11, 2016|access-date=July 11, 2016}}

=Tampa Bay Rays (second stint)=

On July 15, 2016, Jepsen signed a contract for the remainder of the season to return to the Rays.[http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/rays-in-talks-with-kevin-jepsen.html Rays, Kevin Jepsen Agree To Major League Deal - MLB Trade Rumors] In 2016, balls hit against him had the highest average exit velocity in the major leagues, at 91.7 miles per hour.[https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard?year=2016&abs=150&player_type=pitcher Statcast Leaderboard | baseballsavant.com]

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On February 13, 2017, Jepsen signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=18679618 |title=Diamondbacks sign Matusz, Jepsen to minor league deals |work=espn.com |access-date=March 22, 2017}} He was released on March 25.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/diamondbacks-make-cuts-roster-nearly-set-c220903228|title=D-backs cut 2, enter final phase of roster moves|last=Gilbert|first=Steve|work=MLB.com|date=March 25, 2017|access-date=March 28, 2017}}

=Washington Nationals=

Nearing a return after losing the first half of the season to a quadriceps injury, Jepsen reportedly signed a minor league deal with a July 26 opt-out date on June 29, 2017, to join the Washington Nationals organization.{{cite news|title=Nationals sign Kevin Jepsen to minor-league deal|url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2017/6/29/15893820/nationals-sign-kevin-jepsen|agency=MLB Daily Dish|first=Chris|last=Cotillo|date=June 29, 2017|access-date=June 29, 2017}} In 19 appearances for the Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs, he recorded a 5.32 ERA with 29 strikeouts across {{fraction|23|2|3}} innings pitched. Jepsen elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Texas Rangers=

On December 14, 2017, Jepsen signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/rangers-agree-to-minors-deals-with-hanser-alberto-kevin-jepsen.html|title=Rangers Agree To Minors Deals With Hanser Alberto, Kevin Jepsen|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=December 14, 2017}} Jepsen earned a spot on the Rangers' Opening Day roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-kevin-jepsen-set-to-make-opening-day-roster/|title=Rangers' Kevin Jepsen: Set to make Opening Day roster|publisher=CBSSports.com|access-date=March 27, 2018}} He was designated for assignment on May 21, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/rangers-designate-kevin-jepsen-for-assignment.html|title=Rangers Designate Kevin Jepsen for Assignment|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 21, 2018|access-date=May 22, 2018}} He cleared waivers and elected free agency on May 25.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/rangers-acquire-michael-roth-kevin-jepsen-elects-free-agency.html|title=Rangers Acquire Michael Roth; Kevin Jepsen Elects Free Agency|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=May 25, 2018}}

Pitching style

Jepsen featured four pitches: a four-seam fastball at 95–99 mph, a two-seam fastball at 94–97, a cutter at 89–93, and a curveball at 83–86. Fans in the Diamond Club at Angels Stadium would routinely be in awe of what they were seeing. The cutter was rarely used against left-handed hitters, while the two-seamer was primarily thrown to lefties. Jepsen used his curveball most often in 2-strike counts.{{cite web |url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=448178 |title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Kevin Jepsen |publisher=Brooks Baseball |access-date=July 24, 2012}}