Sean Poppen

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Sean Poppen

|image = File:Sean Poppen.jpg

|caption = Poppen with the Fort Myers Miracle in 2018

|team = Los Angeles Angels

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|15}}

|birth_place = Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 19

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Minnesota Twins

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 3–3

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 5.08

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 67

|teams =

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2020}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2021}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2021}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Sean Russell Poppen (born March 15, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Career

Poppen attended Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Virginia.{{cite web|url=https://www.capehenrycollegiate.org/two-column-news?pk=859270|title=Chesapeake's Sean Poppen – From Harvard to Minor-League Baseball|website=capehenrycollegiate.org|date=June 16, 2016|access-date=June 19, 2019}} He attended Harvard University for four years (2013 through 2016), and played college baseball for the Crimson.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/professional/cedar-rapids-kernels/harvard-educated-kernels-pitcher-sean-poppen-in-no-hurry-to-use-his-degree-20170619|title=Harvard educated Kernels pitcher Sean Poppen in no hurry to use his degree|publisher=The Gazette|author=Jeff Johnson|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=June 19, 2019}}

=Minnesota Twins=

Poppen was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 19th round, with the 573rd overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/6/15/harvard-players-mlb-draft-2016/|title=Baseball's Gruener and Poppen Selected in MLB Draft|website=The Harvard Crimson|author=Stephen J. Gleason|date=June 15, 2016|access-date=June 19, 2019}} He spent the 2016 season with the Elizabethton Twins and the Cedar Rapids Kernels.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/sean-poppen-664092?stats=career-r-pitching-minors&year=2019|title=Sean Poppen Player page|website=MLB.com|access-date=June 19, 2019}} In 2017, he played for Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle. His 2018 was split between Fort Myers and the Chattanooga Lookouts. He split the 2019 minor league season between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Rochester Red Wings, going a combined 7–4 with a 4.01 ERA over 89.2 innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/norfolk-tides/article_c9b391ec-aa50-11e9-bb70-db8e0f537dfa.html|title=Former Cape Henry star Sean Poppen enjoys return to Harbor Park|author=David Hall|date=July 19, 2019|website=The Virginian-Pilot|access-date=November 17, 2019}}

On June 19, 2019, his contract was selected and he was called up to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-sean-poppen-contract-purchased-by-twins/|title=Twins' Sean Poppen: Contract purchased by Twins|website=CBSSports.com|author=RotoWire Staff|date=June 19, 2019|access-date=June 19, 2019}} He made his debut that night versus the Boston Red Sox.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/sean-poppen-major-league-debut|title=Poppen spares bullpen, 'confident' after debut|website=MLB.com|author=Do-Hyoung Park|date=June 20, 2019|access-date=June 20, 2019}} He posted a 0–0 record with a 7.56 ERA over 8.1 innings for the Twins in 2019. Poppen finished the 2019 season on the injured list with elbow inflammation.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-sean-poppen-transferred-to-60-day-il/|title=Twins' Sean Poppen: Transferred to 60-day IL|website=CBSSports.com|author=RotoWire Staff|date=September 1, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019}}

Poppen was designated for assignment by the Twins on September 29, 2020, when Alex Kirilloff was selected to the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/twins-designate-sean-poppen-for-assignment.html|title=Twins Designate Sean Poppen For Assignment|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} With the 2020 Minnesota Twins, Poppen appeared in 6 games, compiling a 0–0 record with 4.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/sean-poppen-664092|title=Sean Poppen Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On October 1, 2020, Poppen was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/pirates-claim-sean-poppen-designate-jt-riddle.html|title=Pirates Claim Sean Poppen, Designate JT Riddle|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} Poppen recorded a 7.71 ERA in 3 appearances before being designated for assignment on May 13, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/pirates-promote-will-craig-dfa-sean-poppen.html|title = Pirates Select Will Craig, Designate Sean Poppen}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On May 18, 2021, Poppen was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/pirates-trade-sean-poppen-rays.html|title = Pirates Trade Sean Poppen to Rays}} He was designated for assignment on July 30, 2021.

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On August 2, 2021, Poppen was claimed off of waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/?tcid=mm_mlb_players#month=8&year=2021|title = Major League Baseball Transactions}} He finished the season appearing in 20 games for Arizona, registering a 1–1 record and 4.67 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched.

In 2022, Poppen made 29 appearances for the Diamondbacks, pitching to a 2–2 record and 4.40 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work.

=San Diego Padres=

On December 2, 2022, Poppen was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/padres-claim-sean-poppen-from-diamondbacks.html | title=Padres Claim Sean Poppen from Diamondbacks}} On January 20, 2023, Poppen was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.{{Cite web|title=Padres' Sean Poppen: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-sean-poppen-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=2023-01-24|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 47 games for El Paso, he struggled to a 1–4 record and 6.33 ERA with 51 strikeouts across {{fraction|58|1|3}} innings pitched. Poppen elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=February 5, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On January 18, 2024, Poppen signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.{{cite web |title=MiLB Transactions |url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-01-18 |website=MiLB.com |access-date=June 30, 2024 |language=en |date=January 18, 2024}} In two appearances for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, he surrendered four runs in {{fraction|3|1|3}} innings pitched. Poppen was released by the Mariners organization on April 5.{{Cite web|title=Sean Poppen: Released by Seattle|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/sean-poppen-released-by-seattle/amp/|access-date=April 5, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Gastonia Baseball Club=

On April 26, 2024, Poppen signed with the Gastonia Baseball Club of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web |title=Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs - transactions |url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=Pointstreak Sports Technologies |language=en}} In 12 games for the team, he logged a 5.11 ERA with 35 strikeouts across {{fraction|24|2|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web |title=Sean Poppen College, Amateur, Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=poppen000sea |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=6 April 2025 |language=en}} On June 17, Poppen was released by Gastonia.

=Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos=

On January 29, 2025, Poppen signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League.{{Cite web |title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 29 de enero de 2025 |trans-title=LMB: Reserve List Movements - January 29, 2025 |url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-29-de-enero-de-2025 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |date=January 30, 2025 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} Poppen made three scoreless appearances for Dos Laredos, recording five strikeouts across {{fraction|3|2|3}} innings pitched.