Nick Tropeano

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2011
A-:  3-2-0, 2.36 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 53.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 10.6 K/9

Tropeano had a strong debut in the New York-Penn League, making a dozen starts and holding opponents to a .567 OPS.  Baseball America ranked him 12th in the Astros’ system after the season.

2012
A:  6-4-0, 2.78 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 87.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 10.0 K/9
A+:  6-3-0, 3.31 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 70.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.8 K/9

Tropeano divided his season evenly between low and high A.  He put up strong numbers at both levels; the high A numbers were better than they look because he was in the high-offense California League.  BA rated him the Astros’ 9th best prospect after the season.

2013
AA:  7-10-5, 4.11 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 133.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.8 K/9

The Astros sent Tropeano to AA and used him in a tandem system in which he was pitching fewer innings every fourth day.  It didn’t seem to work for him so well, as he lost some effectiveness.  BA still rated him 18th in the system after the season.

2014
AAA:  9-5-0, 3.03 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 124.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 8.7 K/9
MLB:  1-3-0, 4.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Tropeano pitched very well in the Pacific Coast League, holding opponents to a .202 average.  The Astros added him to the roster and called him up for September.  He made four starts and pitched better than his ERA indicates.  After the season, Houston traded him to the Angels.  BA ranked him ninth in the latter’s system.

2015
R:  0-1-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
AAA:  3-6-0, 4.81 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 88.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
MLB:  3-2-0, 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 37.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

Tropeano spent most of the season in AAA, although he missed much of June with an injury.  He made a few spot starts in the majors, then got called up in September.  He actually pitched a good deal better in the majors.

2016
A+:  0-1-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 12.6 K/9
AAA:  1-0-0, 2.70 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 1.4 BB/9, 9.5 K/9
MLB:  3-2-0, 3.56 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 68.1 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Tropeano spent half the season in the Angels’ rotation.  He pitched respectably, although not as well as the ERA indicates.  He was helped by a very high 91.1% strand rate; his xFIP was 4.87.  He missed some time in June with shoulder tightness, then went out for the season in mid-July due to a torn ligament in his elbow.

2017
INJURED

Tropeano missed the entire season due to surgery to repair the UCL in his elbow.

2018
A+:  1-1-0, 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 1.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 3.2 IP, 7.4 BB/9, 17.2 K/9
MLB:  5-6-0, 4.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 76.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 7.6 K/9

The Angels kept Tropeano in the majors for most of the season when he could pitch, but he missed much of June with right shoulder inflammation and went out for the season in early August with the same problem.  He pitched respectably in the majors, making 14 starts, but gopher balls were a problem.  He gave up nearly two for every nine innings.

2019
AAA:  4-6-0, 5.87 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 79.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 9.6 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 9.88 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 6.6 K/9

Tropeano missed the first month of the season while rehabbing from the shoulder inflammation.  He spent the rest of the year being shuttled back and forth between the majors and AAA, although he made only three appearances with the Angels, and only one start.  Home runs were still a problem.  He gave up close to one every other inning with the Angels.

When they claimed Tropeano off waivers, the Pirates were short on starting depth with Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer both out.  There’s also the possibility of Derek Holland being traded.  Tropeano has one option left.