Amateur career Tarpley attended
Gilbert High School in
Gilbert, Arizona. The
Cleveland Indians selected him in the eighth round of the
2011 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign with the Indians and enrolled at the
University of Southern California (USC) to play
college baseball for the
Trojans. After one year at USC, he transferred to
Scottsdale Community College. In 2013, his sophomore and lone year at Scottsdale, he went 3–2 with a 2.35 ERA in 16 games (15 starts).
Baltimore Orioles The
Baltimore Orioles selected Tarpley in the third round of the
2013 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Orioles, receiving a $525,000
signing bonus, and compiled a 3–5 record and 3.66 ERA in 13 games (12 starts)
Pittsburgh Pirates On January 27, 2015, the Orioles traded Tarpley along with a
player to be named later to the
Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for
Travis Snider. Pittsburgh assigned him to the
West Virginia Power of the
Single–A South Atlantic League and he spent the whole season there, pitching to an 11–4 record, 2.48 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP in 20 starts. He began 2016 with the
Bradenton Marauders of the
High–A Florida State League (FSL) and posted a 6–4 record and 4.32 ERA in 20 games started.
New York Yankees On August 30, 2016, the Pirates traded Tarpley and
Tito Polo to the
New York Yankees as the players to be named later in the August 1 trade for
Iván Nova. New York assigned him to the High–A
Tampa Yankees of the FSL, and he pitched in one game for them, giving up five runs in five innings. He spent 2017 with both Tampa and the
Trenton Thunder of the
Double–A Eastern League, going a combined 7–0 with an 0.88 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 18 total relief appearances between the two clubs. In 2018, Tarpley pitched for Trenton and
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the
Triple–A International League. The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on September 1, and he made his major league debut the next day. Tarpley pitched in 10 regular season games for the Yankees during his September call up and impressed the Yankees enough to be placed on their post-season roster. During the playoffs he pitched one inning in game three of the
2018 American League Division Series against the Red Sox. On June 9, 2019, Tarpley recorded his first career save in an extra-innings win against the
Cleveland Indians. Tarpley logged a 6.93 ERA in 21 appearances on the year. On January 11, 2020, Tarpley was
designated for assignment by the Yankees following the re–signing of
Brett Gardner.
Miami Marlins On January 15, 2020, Tarpley was traded to the
Miami Marlins in exchange for James Nelson. On August 5, 2020, Tarpley earned his first Marlins save. In 12 games with Miami, Tarpley recorded a 2–2 record 9.00 ERA. On January 3, 2021, the Marlins designated Tarpley for assignment.
New York Mets On January 8, 2021, Tarpley was claimed off waivers by the
New York Mets. Tarpley struggled to a 15.58 ERA in 9 appearances for the Triple-A
Syracuse Mets, and allowed 1 run in his only appearance with the Mets without recording an out. He was designated for assignment on July 11. Tarpley was released by the Mets on July 16. On July 9, Tarpley’s contract was purchased by the
San Francisco Giants organization and he was assigned to the Double-A
Richmond Flying Squirrels. However, Tarpley did not appear in a game for the Giants organization and re-signed with the Ducks on July 14. He appeared in 20 games, making 16 starts and going 4-7 with a 4.64 ERA and 92 strikeouts in innings pitched. On April 18, 2023, Tarpley re-signed with the Ducks for the 2023 season. In 14 starts, he registered a 4–5 record and 4.90 ERA with 70 strikeouts in innings pitched.
Lexington Counter Clocks On July 28, 2023, Tarpley was traded to the
Lexington Counter Clocks in exchange for
Merandy González. In one start for the Counter Clocks, he allowed seven runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. On February 27, 2024, Tarpley was released by Lexington.
Sultanes de Monterrey On March 1, 2024, Tarpley signed with the
Sultanes de Monterrey of the
Mexican League. In 17 starts for Monterrey, he compiled a 7–3 record and 4.11 ERA with 75 strikeouts across 81 innings pitched. In 2025, Tarpley returned for a second season with Monterrey. In 17 games (16 starts) he threw 78.1 innings going 4-4 with a 5.74 ERA and 66 strikeouts. ==References==