Billy Eppler is the director of professional scouting for the New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

 of Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

.

Eppler attended the University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut

The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...

 and pitched for the Connecticut Huskies baseball team, until an arm injury ended his playing career.

Eppler was hired as a scout for the San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...

 in 2000. He spent five years scouting for the Padres and Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...

. After the 2004 season, he was hired to scout for the Yankees, working in the Tampa

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

 office run by Mark Newman and Damon Oppenheimer

Damon Oppenheimer

Damon T. Oppenheimer is Vice President and Director of Amateur Scouting for the New York Yankees.-Playing career:Oppenheimer was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Southern California...

. When Yankees General Manager (GM) Brian Cashman

Brian Cashman

Brian McGuire Cashman is an American Major League Baseball executive for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Cashman was born in Rockville Centre, New York and raised in Washingtonville, New York. He was raised in an Irish Catholic family. He moved with his family to Lexington, Kentucky, where his...

 was given the authority to restructure the Yankees' front office after the 2005 season, he created a pro scouting department and promoted Eppler to run it.

Eppler is well versed in the statistics of baseball, using them to sign Edwar Ramírez

Edwar Ramírez

Edwar Emilio Ramírez is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 2002–2005:...

 out of independent baseball

Independent baseball

Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...

. He is considered by many, including Cashman and Gene Michael to be a future GM

General manager

General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...

.

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