Jerad Eickhoff

Jerad Joseph Eickhoff ( ; born July 2, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. Eickhoff was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 15th round (474th overall) of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. In July 2015, the Rangers traded him to the Phillies, with whom he made his big league debut in .

Early life Eickhoff was born on July 2, 1990, in Evansville, Indiana. His father, Ron, was a local carpenter who would help Eickhoff and his brothers, Jonathan and Jordan, practice baseball in their backyard. His mother DeeDee, meanwhile, drove Eickhoff and his brothers to baseball games and tournaments throughout their childhood. Growing up, Eickhoff was a supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB), and frequently attended games at Busch Memorial Stadium.

Eickhoff played baseball and basketball at Mater Dei High School in Indiana. He was primarily a third baseman, and only began pitching during his junior year. Eickhoff went mostly unnoticed by scouts and college recruiters until October 2008, where, as a senior with his fall travel team, Eickhoff pitched seven strong innings at the World Wood Bat Association (WWBA) National Championships. Eickhoff would eventually become the second Mater Dei alumnus to play in MLB, following Rob Maurer.

College career Following his WWBA performance, Eickhoff received offers from baseball programs at schools like Michigan State and Indiana University, but many of those programs wanted him to play as a walk-on pitcher. A scout for the Baltimore Orioles suggested that Eickhoff attend a junior college, where he was more likely to receive playing time. Eickhoff ultimately committed to play college baseball as a pitcher for Olney Central College in Olney, Illinois. He declined to sign with the team, choosing instead to return to Olney. That year, Eickhoff played collegiate summer baseball with the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League. He made 16 appearances with the Woodchucks, posting a 3–2 win–loss record and a 6.69 earned run average (ERA), while striking out 35 batters in 39 innings pitched.

As a sophomore in 2011, Eickhoff continued to grow as a player, with his pitch velocity reaching up to . He posted a 10–4 record and a 1.90 ERA for the year, enough to win the title of Great Rivers Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. He also set a school record with 116 strikeouts in innings, while walking only 27. After the season, Eickhoff committed to Western Kentucky University. He was initially assigned to the rookie–level Arizona League Rangers, but was promoted to the Low–A Spokane Indians of the Northwest League after only four games. In 14 appearances between Arizona and Spokane, Eickhoff was 1–2 in his rookie season, with a 2.37 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. He was 13–7 with a 4.69 ERA — his 13 wins were third in the league and matched the 2nd-highest single-season win total in team history.

Eickhoff started 2013 with the High–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League, and was promoted to the Double–A Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas League during the season. He had the 3rd-lowest WHIP (1.17) and the 8th–lowest ERA (3.41) in the Carolina League, and his 11 wild pitches were 6th in the league. He made his major league debut for the Phillies on August 21. Eickhoff's 2015 big league pitching totals included a 3-3 win–loss record with a 2.65 ERA, while he struck out 49 batters in 51 innings pitched. Eickhoff missed the end of the 2017 season because he was experiencing numbness in his fingers.

In 2018, Eickhoff was 0–1, with a 6.75 ERA, and struck out 11 batters in innings. In 2018, with the High–A Clearwater Threshers, Reading, and the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he was 0–1 with a 2.90 in eight starts.

In 2019 with the Phillies he was 3–4 with one save and a 5.71 ERA, and struck out 51 batters in innings. In 2019, with Clearwater, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, he was 3–2 with a 5.93 ERA and 24 strikeouts in eight starts. On November 4, he was sent outright off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

San Diego Padres On December 27, 2019, Eickhoff signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. On August 2, 2020, Eickhoff's contract was selected to the active roster. The next day he was optioned down and he was outrighted off of the roster on August 24, without making a major league appearance. He elected free agency on August 26.

Texas Rangers (second stint) On August 30, 2020, Eickhoff signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He did not play in a game with the Rangers organization due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He became a free agent on November 2.

New York Mets On December 21, 2020, Eickhoff signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin the year. On June 20, Eickhoff was selected to the active roster. After posting a 4.50 ERA in 2 starts for the Mets, Eickhoff was designated for assignment on June 29. He was outrighted to Syracuse on July 3. However, Eickhoff rejected the assignment and elected free agency. Eickhoff re-signed with the Mets on a minor league contract on July 5. Eickhoff allowed 4 runs in 6 innings of work before he was designated for assignment a second time on July 20. Eickhoff elected free agency for a second time on July 24. Eickhoff again re-signed with the Mets organization on a minor league contract. That day, Eickhoff took the loss after giving up 10 runs in his start against the Atlanta Braves, and was designated for assignment yet again the following day. On October 6, 2021, Eickhoff elected free agency.

Pittsburgh Pirates On November 28, 2021, Eickhoff signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to begin the season.

On June 22, 2022, Eickhoff was selected to the 40-man and active rosters. In his only appearance, a start against the Chicago Cubs, he was shelled for 10 runs on 10 hits in 4 innings of work. He made history as the first Pirate to allow 10 runs in their first start with the squad. He also became the first pitcher to allow 10 runs in back-to-back starts since Chubby Dean of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1940. Eickhoff was designated for assignment on June 24. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Indianapolis on June 27. In 28 games (20 starts) for Indianapolis, he posted a 6–7 record and 4.96 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched. He elected free agency on October 6.

Lexington Counter Clocks On April 13, 2023, Eickhoff signed with the Lexington Counter Clocks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 9 starts for Lexington, Eickhoff struggled to a 3–4 record and 6.16 ERA with 40 strikeouts in innings pitched.

Cleveland Guardians On June 20, 2023, Eickhoff had his contract purchased by the Cleveland Guardians organization. In 14 games (13 starts) for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers, he struggled to a 1–7 record and 6.92 ERA with 41 strikeouts across innings pitched. Eickhoff elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Coaching career On January 15, 2024, Eickhoff was named the pitching coach for the Miami Marlins' Double–A affiliate, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. On February 13, 2026, Eickhoff was promoted to serve as the pitching coach for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Miami's Triple-A affiliate.