Tiny brown spots in between the veins is often indicative of thrips. You might look closely and see if there is any evidence of really tiny flying insects.

Depending on where you are located it could be awfully early for planting eggplants outside. If so then all the environmental issues will come up - sun scorch, wind burn, too cool soil temps, nutrient imbalances, pest issues, etc.

And if the plant was not fully hardened off before transplanting, even if it is the proper planting time, your pic is the end result.

Dave

Yeah - I did probably have them outside about a week too early, but I am fairly south. Past my frost date but also sitll not as warm as I'd like. I took a bit of a risk because I was just so dang anxious to get them out of my guestroom closet. However, the vast majority (6, compared to this 1) have transitioned fine. Do you all feel that if it is trauma-based, time will heal it and it can still produce or am I better off pulling it and putting something else in?

Well that's what puzzles me about this. This is something you're evidently seeing on ONE plant. The rest are fine. I gather most were treated similarly, and have been exposed to the same traumas - pests, poor nutrition, etc. Looks like there are some healthy young leaves on that one plant, so I'm guessing that something made a few leaves unhappy, but it'll all work out.

As realtors say - location, location, location. It's location in the garden can make a difference. It's root development compared to the others can make a difference. But my point was that eggplant are heat lovers and like peppers are one of the summer-lover vegetables and frost date is not relevant to them. They do best when planted at least a couple weeks after tomatoes.

But yes, with a little luck I think it should make it eventually.

Dave