Today is the final part of a four part series that we are running where we look at a player that may currently be overlooked, but is someone you shouldn’t be sleeping on for the 2015 season. In part one we looked at outfielder Kevin Garcia. Then we looked at reliever Drew Hayes. We then looked at third baseman Tanner Rahier, but his legal issues and subsequent suspension put that article on the backburner. Today we wrap things up by looking at starting pitcher Jackson Stephens.
Stephens was selected in the 18th round by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2012 draft. He threw 21.1 innings for the Arizona League Reds in his debut, walking just three batters (and two were intentional walks) with 22 strikeouts. His ERA, despite the good peripherals, was a bit high at 4.64.
The right hander followed that up by pitching with the Dayton Dragons in 2013. He didn’t make his debut until June 21st, but he pitched in a piggy-back system with Amir Garrett where each guy would throw 4-5 innings and the other guy would usually cover the rest. In 64.2 innings he had 18 walks and 55 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.59. What stood out for Stephens was his scouting report, bolstered by above-average velocity and he would flash a nice looking breaking ball.
The 2014 season began with Stephens on the disabled list after having an elbow injury in spring training. In a weird twist he began the 2014 season on the same day that he began the 2013 season, June 21st, and was once again in Dayton. The numbers were similar to the previous year as he posted a 4.84 ERA in 67.0 innings with 22 walks and 54 strikeouts. His ERA, walk rate and strikeout rate were all similar to the year before, but there are reasons to believe that he could put things together this season.
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Jackson Stephens posted similar numbers in 2014 as he did in 2013 at the same level, but there was a rather big difference outside of the numbers. After returning from the elbow injury last season his velocity simply wasn’t the same as it was in 2013. Stephens would top out at 95 MPH and routinely hit 94 MPH in 2013, but he struggled to get above the 91-92 mark in 2014. His breaking ball was still flashing itself as a quality offering and his change up showed little improvements over the prior year.
Further out from the injury, if Stephens can regain his lost velocity it will go well with his ability to throw strikes he’s shown since being drafted. If he can also do that while improving on his secondary offerings he could be a prime candidate for a breakout player of the year.
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