UConn Grad now General Manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have named Billy Eppler as their new General Manager. Eppler is a Husky alumnus, having graduated in 1998 with a degree in finance. He briefly pitched as a reliever for UConn, but an injury ended his playing career after just four trots in from the bullpen. According to Jeff Jacobs’ article in the Hartford Courant, Eppler already knew he wanted to be an MLB General Manager when he was in college.

Billy got his foot in the door by interning with the Washington Redskins.  Soon enough, he was able to move over to baseball by landing a scouting job with the Colorado Rockies.  He continued his ascent by joining the Yankees organization after the 2004 season and in the Bronx he went from being a scout, to directing the scouting department, to Assistant General Manager.  In 2011, he interviewed for the very job he just landed with the Angels, but the Halos went with Jerry Dipoto. Last summer, he interviewed for his hometown San Diego Padres’ vacant GM position but was unable to land the gig. His big break came this past season as the aforementioned Dipoto was disposed of by the Angels, and upon second look the Los Angels of Anaheim selected him to be their 12th General Manager in franchise history.

Eppler is no stranger to the west coast, having grown up in San Diego. He will face off against Dipoto once again, as the former Angels GM just accepted the same position with the Seattle Mariners; Dipoto briefly worked as a consultant for the Red Sox in the second half of this past season after his dismissal from Los Angeles. Though this will be Eppler’s first season with the Angels, two of his American League West foes have new general managers as well, with Oakland promoting David Forst to GM today (and Seattle hiring Dipoto).

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