Ryan Tepera will always get to say that he received an MVP vote during the 2020 MLB season and that’s pretty cool and of course funny because it was a mistake, but still a great story for the rest of his life. Now, it appears as though the relief pitcher is back with Cubs.
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On Wednesday night, Tepera posted on social media and while there hasn’t been any other reporting on this anywhere, the pitcher appears to have announced that he’s back with the Cubs. Maybe? He updated his profile picture and well it only makes sense that it means Tepera has signed with his former squad.
If Tepera is indeed back, then I’m assuming he’s signed a minor league contract. The now 37-year-old did not pitch for anyone in 2024 after only making 12 appearances during the 2023 season.
Tepera was previously with the Cubs in 2020-21, posting a 3.23 ERA in 64 innings. He was really good in 2021, recording a 2.91 ERA with 50 strikeouts and a 0.78 WHIP in 43.1 innings before the Cubs traded him to the White Sox for left-handed pitching prospect Bailey Horn. Tepera finished his strong 2021 season on the south side with a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings of work.
The right-handed reliever cashed in on his career year by signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels worth $14 million. Tepera was solid in his first season with the Angels, recording a 3.61 ERA in 57.1 innings. Unfortunately for Tepera, he struggled to begin the 2023 season and after having a 7.27 ERA in 10 bullpen appearances the Angels DFA’d him and eventually released Tepera on May 19.
Tepera then signed on with the Texas Rangers, but opted out of that deal after he wasn’t called up from Triple-A. The righty ended up with the St. Louis Cardinals in July, but he only made two appearances for them and was released before the calendar flipped to August.
Overall in his MLB career, Tepera has a 3.62 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 365.1 innings.
Welcome back, I think? Hey, last time the Cubs made it to the postseason, Tepera was on the team.
