Tom Koehler

Thomas R. Koehler (born June 29, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Koehler attended Stony Brook University and was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. Since entering the professional circuit, Koehler has played in the minor leagues with the Jamestown Jammers (2008), the Greensboro Grasshoppers (2009), the Jupiter Hammerheads (2009), and the Jacksonville Suns (2010). In 2010, he was selected to the Southern League All-Star Game en route to leading the league in wins at the end of the season. He also tied a Jacksonville Suns franchise record in that category. Koehler bats and throws right handed. He stands at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighs 235 pounds (107 kg).

Amateur career

Koehler attended New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York, where he played on the school's baseball team. During the 2002 season, he was awarded the rookie of the year award. In his junior season, Koehler compiled a 5–1 record with 54 strikeouts. That year, he was an all-league selection. During his senior season, Koehler went 6–1 with a 0.86 earned run average (ERA), and 108 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched. After the season, he was a Rawlings All-Northeast, all-section, and all-state selection. He was also the Section I Pitcher of the Year, and the spring athlete of the year at his high school. Koehler was a three-time letter winner at New Rochelle.

In 2005, Koehler began playing baseball at Stony Brook University. During his first season, he went 2–1 with a 5.68 ERA, and 42 strikeouts in 18 games, eight starts. During his sophomore season, Koehler went 4–5 with a 5.17 ERA in 14 games, 11 starts. After the season, he was named to the All-America East Second Team. In his junior year, Koehler went 5–8 with a 4.98 ERA, one complete game, and 87 strikeouts in 13 games, all starts. Koehler went 6–5 with a 4.15 ERA, two complete games, and 111 strikeouts in 14 games, all starts during his senior season. The Florida Marlins drafted Koehler during the 18th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.

Professional career

Soon after the draft in 2008, Koehler signed with the Florida Marlins. He was assigned to the Class-A Short-Season Jamestown Jammers of the New York–Penn League to start his professional career. On the season, he went 5–5 with a 3.68 ERA, 58 strikeouts in 15 games, 13 starts. During the 2009 season, Koehler played with the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, and the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads. First with the Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League, he went 5–5 with a 3.20 ERA, and 82 strikeouts in 18 games, all starts. Koehler then received a promotion to the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League, where he went 4–1 with a 3.38 ERA, and 25 strikeouts in six games, all starts. Between the two clubs that year, Koehler earned a combined record of 9–6 with a 3.25 ERA, and 107 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched.

Koehler started the 2010 season with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. He was selected to play in the Southern League All-Star Game that season. During the 2010 season, Koehler went 16–2 with a 2.61 ERA, and 145 strikeouts in 28 games, all starts. Amongst league pitchers, Koehler led in wins; and was second in innings pitched, and strikeouts. At the end of the season, Koehler won the Southern League Pitcher of the Year award. On the subject of the award, Koehler said, "I was real happy and honored, because there are so many good pitchers in this league, but, ultimately, my goal isn't to win awards in Double-A...This year, I kind of showed myself that I can pitch at higher levels, and that's going to motivate me to work even harder this off-season." He tied a Jacksonville Suns franchise record with his 16 wins. On September 5, 2012 Koehler made his major league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers pitching 2.0 innings giving up 3 hits, 4 runs(all earned), walking one, and striking out one. He finished the season with 13.1 innings pitched, a 5.40 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, 13 strikeouts, 2 walks in 8 appearances(one start). His lone start of the 2012 season was against the New York Mets in which he went 5.0 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits, striking out 3 and walking none, but ended up taking the loss as the Marlins lost 4-2.

He started the season with the Zephyrs, but on April 19, he was called up from New Orleans because Scott Maine was struggling. He made 6 relief appearances before being put in the rotation to replace Wade LeBlanc. He earned his first major league win against the San Francisco Giants on June 20, pitching 7 innings of one run ball. Koehler was optioned to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs on July 4, 2013 when Henderson Álvarez was activated from the disabled list. He had a 1-5 record and a 4.70 ERA when he was sent back. He was recalled again on July 13 when Chad Qualls was placed on the paternity list. As of August 9, he has a 3-7 record with a 4.40 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts in 92 innings. He has started 14 of the 20 games he has appeared in.

Pitching Style

Koehler throws a 4 seam fastball, a 2 seam fastball, a slider, changeup, and a curveball.

Personal life

Koehler was born on June 29, 1986 in the Bronx, New York. He has one sister, Erica. His parents are Theresa and Rolf Koehler. He married Ashley Koehler (Westphal) on November 10, 2012 in the Dominican Republic.