Tom Koehler

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, 8 of which were starts. During his sophomore season, Koehler went 4–5 with a 5.17 ERA in 14 games, making 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, 1 complete game, and 87 strikeouts in 13 starts. Koehler went 6–5 with a 4.15 ERA, 2 complete games, and 111 strikeouts in 14 starts during his senior season. The Florida Marlins drafted Koehler during the 18th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.

Minor leagues

Shortly 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. He went 5–5 for the season with a 3.68 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 15 games. During the 2009 season, Koehler played with the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, and the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads. With the Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League, he went 5–5 with a 3.20 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 18 starts. He 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 6 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 starts. Amongst league pitchers, Koehler led in wins, and was second in both innings pitched and strikeouts. At the end of the season, Koehler won the Southern League Pitcher of the Year award. He also tied a Jacksonville Suns franchise record with 16 wins.

Florida/Miami Marlins

Koehler made his major league debut on September 5, 2012 against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching 2 innings, allowing 4 runs, and striking out 1 batter. He finished the season with a 5.40 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched. His lone start of the 2012 season was against the New York Mets, in which he went 5 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 3 batters in a 4–2 Marlins loss.

Koehler began the 2013 season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, but was called up on April 19. He made 6 relief appearances before transitioning to the rotation to replace Wade LeBlanc. He earned his first major league win against the San Francisco Giants on June 20, pitching 7 innings and allowing 1 run. Koehler was optioned to Triple-A on July 4 when Henderson Álvarez was activated from the disabled list, but was recalled again on July 13 when Chad Qualls was placed on the paternity list. He finished the season with a 5–10 record and a 4.41 ERA in 143 innings pitched.

Through the 2014 to 2016 seasons, Koehler made 96 starts for the Marlins. He posted a 3.81 ERA in 32 starts in 2014, a 4.08 ERA in 31 starts in 2015, and a 4.33 ERA in 33 starts in 2016. During the 2017 season, he split time between the major leagues and Triple-A, making 12 starts at the major league level and pitching to a 7.92 ERA in 55 ²⁄₃ innings.

Toronto Blue Jays

On August 19, 2017, the Marlins traded Koehler to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Osman Gutierrez. He made his first start for the Blue Jays on August 24, pitching 5 innings, allowing 1 run, and striking out 7 batters in a 2–0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Pitching style

Koehler throws a four seam fastball, a two 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.